RUGGLES OF RED GAP (US 1935) is a unique viewing experience to me because it is the only film that I remember trying to watch three times, and on all those occasions I fell asleep about halfway. This time I actually woke up in time to watch the ending - which is so general that I might have done better if I had slept instead.
I have gone back and tried to watch the missing bits, to try to grasp the rest and I found Laughton unusually understated as a British butler lost in gambling. That understated approach does not hurt his performance - in fact, he holds the film together - but the overall product is full of spurious and dated humor, with some over the top American behavior thrown in to contrast with Laughton's stiff upper lip. Unfortunately, that attempt at contrast is more annoying than successful.
I doubt I will ever to try to watch this film again.
I have gone back and tried to watch the missing bits, to try to grasp the rest and I found Laughton unusually understated as a British butler lost in gambling. That understated approach does not hurt his performance - in fact, he holds the film together - but the overall product is full of spurious and dated humor, with some over the top American behavior thrown in to contrast with Laughton's stiff upper lip. Unfortunately, that attempt at contrast is more annoying than successful.
I doubt I will ever to try to watch this film again.