“The Ropin’ Fool” is the result of Will Rogers’ brief foray into being a movie producer. One of the most popular of his movies shown daily at the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore, it is now available on DVD.
The new DVD contains two bonus features — the movie “Judge Priest,” which famous director John Ford called “my favorite motion picture of all time,” and “Bacon, Beans and Limousines – Radio Talk,” a 1931 radio talk news reel.
Will Rogers, born Nov. 4, 1879 starred in 71 movies before his death in an Aug. 15, 1935 Alaskan plane crash.
He made three pictures during his venture of being his own producer.
Will wrote “The Ropin’ Fool” himself, including many of his own rope tricks and catches and using a white rope and his black pony, Dopey. The best tricks are shown in slow motion.
After his production experience, Will returned to New York and a successful run in the Follies and after-dinner speaking engagements to recover the debts incurred in his movie-making, according to his wife Betty Rogers in her book “Will Rogers.”
Jim Hartz, former television newsman who got his start at channel 6 in Tulsa and went on to become host of the NBC “Today Show,” does the introduction on the DVD. Hartz is chairman of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission.
“Judge Priest” is comedy drama of war, politics, romance and remorse, a 20th Century Fox black and white talkie.
The radio talk reel contains one of the best-known Will Rogers quotes “…the only nation in the history of the world to go to the poor house in an automobile.”
Available in the Will Rogers Museum Gift Shop, the DVD is $12.95.
(The Will Rogers Museum is open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is by donation.)