Cinema Revisited: In Old Kentucky (1935)

Cinema Revisited: In Old Kentucky (1935)

In Old Kentucky

Directed by George Marshall. Cast: Will Rogers, Bill Robinson, Russell Hardie, Dorothy Wilson, Charles Sellon, Louise Henry, Alan Dinehart. Released November 28, 1935. Running Time: 86 minutes

Over 80 years after he tragically perished in a plane crash, it is hard to fathom just how popular and beloved Will Rogers was. A hit in the Ziegfeld Follies, popular in some funny and clever silent movies, and a star in sound pictures, Rogers was a relaxed, sensible, witty comedian who never offended and always pleased, even when discussing topics like politics.

When Rogers died, two completed feature films were awaiting release from 20th Century Fox studios. The last, “In Old Kentucky,” was a huge hit, audiences realizing it was the last time they would see Rogers on screen. It took in $1.4 million, which is an enormous sum for 1935, and audiences hailed it as Will Rogers’ best movie. Exhibitors wrote in the trades that they enjoyed packed houses for weeks, even extending show times each day.

The film itself is hardly the masterpiece its reputation would lead one to assume. It is a very pleasant film, but little more than that. The story deals with a simmering feud between two horse breeding families that is settled with a horse race. And from that premise, we are treated to Rogers’ folksy charm and the tap dancing skills of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.

Of course Robinson is much more intelligent than the subservient roles he was often limited to playing, and “In Old Kentucky” provides him with greater

opportunities. His character, part of one family’s household, is treated with respect and admiration. Even the cantankerous grandfather character, nicely done by Charles Sellon (best known as the blind Mr. Muckle in “It’s a Gift”), who is angry and mistrusting of nearly everyone, does trust the Robinson character, and there are even scenes when the old man is subservient to him.

There are some amusing highlights. A scene where Bill tries to teach Will how to dance is a delight. While Rogers hardly has anywhere near the prowess of Robinson, he proves himself to be an earnest pupil and a quick study, enjoying the amount of dancing ability he is able to exhibit via the finest of teachers. Rogers and Robinson were real life friends, and when Rogers died, Robinson refused to fly on a plane for the rest of his life.

In other highlights, Etienne Giradot is laugh-out-loud funny as a would-be rainmaker, as is Rogers bit about fly catching ( when he sees a lace curtain in a posh establishment, he thinks they’re having trouble with insects).

Will Rogers was a major star, but always exuded the manner of a common man, and that was the essence of his appeal. When he was killed, the nation went into mourning. Over 12,000 theaters throughout the nation honored his memory with a moment of silence. The President of Fox studios issued at statement to the trades about the final completed films they had left to release. It read, in part:

“In Old Kentucky” is a comfortable representation of Will Rogers in movies. When considering his popularity, one must realize that he was frequently one of the top ten box office draws during the 30s, beating out such stars as Clark Gable, James Cagney, and William Powell. The great comedians from that era (Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, The Marx Brothers) were never among the top ten box office draws. Rogers was.