Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)

IMDb plot summary: An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.

Directed by Leo McCarey. Starring Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charles Ruggles, and Zasu Pitts.

I have a special fondness for “fish out of water” comedies, be they body swap movies or time travel movies. Abrupt status changes like this can often scratch that itch as well. This one doesn’t quite, partly because while the movie sets itself up as that kind of story, it’s only that for about 15 minutes before Ruggles acquiesces to his employer’s demands that he loosen up and socialize with the other people of the town. And then it’s about him learning to be his own person, which is kind of sweet but not so much comedic and ends up leaning awkwardly at times into a super pro-American nationalism which touts personal freedom and glosses over how little the brash Americans care about each other’s comfort. It ends as a very different movie than it began, and it’s fine but not quite my style.

How it entered my Flickchart:

Ruggles of Red Gap > Hustle & Flow

Ruggles of Red Gap < Jack Goes Boating

Ruggles of Red Gap < About Elly

Ruggles of Red Gap < Real Life

Ruggles of Red Gap > The Forbidden Kingdom

Ruggles of Red Gap < Cast Away

Ruggles of Red Gap > The Wrestler

Ruggles of Red Gap < 12 Angry Men (1997)

Ruggles of Red Gap > Patsy & Loretta

Ruggles of Red Gap > John Carter

Ruggles of Red Gap > The Forest

Final spot: #1583 out of 3462, or 54%.