WILL ROGERS: LOOK BACK IN LAUGHTER (TV)
Summary
This production is a salute to the life of legendary humorist Will Rogers. The program begins with a “tour” of the main house at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Santa Monica, Calif., as “Ranger Tad” and a tourist group -- all played by Robin Williams -- explore the rooms As the unprepared Tad is peppered with questions about Rogers’ life, vintage film clips showcase Rogers’ various talents. Narrator Harold Ramis tells how Rogers was born in 1879 near Claremore, Oklahoma, the son of a rancher and banker who was part Cherokee. After his mother died, Rogers ran away from boarding school to become a cowboy. He perfected his roping skills and developed a series of rope tricks on the range. Joining a Wild West Show in Argentina as a “trick roper,” he traveled the world with similar shows and was subsequently discovered at Madison Square Garden in 1905 as “The Cherokee Kid.” He went on to the vaudeville circuit, where he combined his rope tricks with unique comedy-driven monologues, ultimately joining the Ziegfeld Follies under the tutelage of Florenz Ziegfeld. He went on to a Hollywood career as he appeared in a series of popular silent films. Home movies show Rogers in his new Beverly Hills mansion with his wife, the former Betty Blake, and their three children. Rogers soon started producing and writing his own films, in which he starred. However, the films proved a critical and financial failure. On Will Rogers State Beach, Dan Aykroyd tells how Rogers lost almost all his assets as the films had been financed by the star with his own money. Aykroyd recalls how Rogers made “his second fortune” by parlaying his talents on the radio, then criss-crossing the country with personal appearances. As his popularity as a public speaker grew, Rogers became interested in airplanes, which he always used as a means of transportation between engagements. After extensive travels to Europe, Rogers became a syndicated newspaper columnist, a venture which proved extremely successful. He also returned to motion pictures, which now had sound. Rogers used his folksy charm to address social issues and reached the peak of his popularity. Rogers bought a ranch in the Santa Monica mountains, at which he attempted to recreate his Oklahoma boyhood. There, he became an expert polo player. Chevy Chase tries to ape Rogers’ polo skills as he describes the history and traits of polo ponies. In 1929, after the stock market crash, Rogers was still able to make people laugh. Rodney Dangerfield explains the effects of Rogers’ humor during the ‘30s. Clips show how Rogers once shared a radio broadcast with President Herbert Hoover, during which he discussed what brought on the Depression. He later became the “unofficial ambassador of good will” to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When the Depression ended, Rogers’ on-screen popularity increased, during which he was signed to a two-million dollar contract by 20th Century Fox studio and did three films for director John Ford. In 1935, Rogers sought relaxation by barnstorming with an old pal, aviator Wiley Post, to the Arctic Circle. On Aug. 15, their plane crashed and Rogers and Post were killed. In Los Angeles, 150,000 walked past Rogers’ coffin and memorial observances were held across the country. At Inspiration Point in Will Rogers State Park, Williams reads from Rogers’ writing and tells of the humorist’s enduring legacy. This program is closed-captioned.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: 1987
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:13969
- GENRE: Arts documentaries; Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Arts documentaries; Comedy;
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1987
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Malcolm Leo … Executive Producer, Director
- Harold Ramis … Executive Producer
- Hildegarde Duane … Producer
- Bonnie Peterson … Producer
- Bennett Tramer … Associate Producer, Writer
- Rouben Rapelian … Associate Producer
- David Lindley … Music by
- Harold Ramis … Narrator, Guest
- Dan Aykroyd … Guest
- Chevy Chase … Guest
- Rodney Dangerfield … Guest
- Robin Williams … Guest
- Betty Blake
- John Ford
- Herbert Hoover
- Wiley Post
- Will Rogers
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
- Florenz Ziegfeld