Will Rogers in "Steamboat Round the Bend"
CLAREMORE---Release on DVD of four Will Rogers’ movies of 1935 drew praise today from Michelle Lefebvre-Carter, director of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission. The classics are due for release July 25.
“We have cooperated extensively with Twentieth Century-Fox in the re-release of these four talkies,” Lefebvre-Carter said. “We supplied the studio with background information, photographs and historic data from our archives.”
“Steamboat Round the Bend” is a laugh filled classic directed by John Ford where the Oklahoma super star portrays the captain of a river boat named “Claremore Queen.” It was released four days following the August 15, 1935 air crash in Alaska that claimed the lives of Will Rogers and Wiley Post. The timing of the release caused mix emotions among movie goers.
Will Rogers’ final film, “In Old Kentucky” was released three months later, November 22, 1935, with less emotional response but reviewer praise.
Playing a race horse trainer, one reviewer wrote that Will Rogers “was never more entertaining, never in truer form, nor more universally appealing.” “It has life, sparkle, wit and lust slapstick clowning,” wrote another.
Also set for re-release in July are “Life Begins at 40,” and “Doubting Thomas,” that also were filmed during 1935.
During the final 66 months of his life, Will Rogers starred in 21 talkie movies; wrote 2,897 syndicated newspaper columns; was a network radio commentator; made two around-the-world trips and flew the parameter of South America. Post and he planned to fly over North Pole to Moscow when they crashed near Point Barrow.
After starring in 50 silent films 1918-29, Will Rogers topped all theatre box offices in 1934 but ran second behind Shirley Temple in 1935 with Clark Gable lagging in third place.
“Twentieth Century-Fox’s re-release of these four final movies of Will Rogers’ career reflects the growing national and international interest in the Oklahoma cowboy-philosopher-actor,” Lefebvre-Carter said.
“Even in those busy five years of his life, Will Rogers often visited Oklahoma and was the unchallenged national booster for the State,” she said. “These four movies on DVD, with more planned soon, is a salute to both Oklahoma and Will Rogers. He is not forgotten.”