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PATRIOTISM IN HOLLYWOOD
I don't watch much television, but when I do, old movies have always fascinated me. It's a window into a previous period and its popular culture. It's interesting because it enriches one's perspective as to the generational shifts that take place. We can learn a great deal about ourselves today by examining what we were like in the past. Something I never knew was that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was not as widely recognized in the first half of the 20th century as it has been since. Interestingly, one reason why we appreciate the Gettysburg Address so much today is due to the efforts of an Englishman, not an American. The great actor, Charles Laughton held such a deep and almost reverential appreciation for Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he would often recite it for people, sometimes holding back tears. So powerful were Lincoln's words on Mr. Laughton. Charles Laughton raised the awareness of the American public to what many today recognize as the greatest utterances of President Lincoln. In the 1935 film, "Ruggles of Red Gap", Charles Laughton plays a British manservant whose master lost his services in a card game to wealthy, but unsophisticated American from Washington state. Laughton leaves a class based and hamstrung society in Great Britain, to come to America to work for the American. In America, Laughton sees how some Americans still want the trappings of class distinctions, but he also sees the principle of equality and opportunity. Gradually, he falls in love with the promise of America. In this clip, the question of "What did Lincoln say at Gettysburg?" is asked at the local saloon in Red Gap. Nobody seems to know. But Mr. Ruggles (Laughton) has been reading about America and he knows what Lincoln said. What follows is one of the most stirring renditions of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address you may ever hear. Somewhere along the line, Hollywood lost this kind of unapologetic expression of patriotism. But every once in a while, it's refreshing to see that is was there once and could one day, be there again.
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By I don't watch much television, but when I do, old movies have always fascinated me. It's a window into a previous period and its popular culture. It's interesting because it enriches one's perspective as to the generational shifts that take place. We can learn a great deal about ourselves today by examining what we were like in the past. Something I never knew was that Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was not as widely recognized in the first half of the 20th century as it has been since. Interestingly, one reason why we appreciate the Gettysburg Address so much today is due to the efforts of an Englishman, not an American. The great actor, Charles Laughton held such a deep and almost reverential appreciation for Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, he would often recite it for people, sometimes holding back tears. So powerful were Lincoln's words on Mr. Laughton. Charles Laughton raised the awareness of the American public to what many today recognize as the greatest utterances of President Lincoln. In the 1935 film, "Ruggles of Red Gap", Charles Laughton plays a British manservant whose master lost his services in a card game to wealthy, but unsophisticated American from Washington state. Laughton leaves a class based and hamstrung society in Great Britain, to come to America to work for the American. In America, Laughton sees how some Americans still want the trappings of class distinctions, but he also sees the principle of equality and opportunity. Gradually, he falls in love with the promise of America. In this clip, the question of "What did Lincoln say at Gettysburg?" is asked at the local saloon in Red Gap. Nobody seems to know. But Mr. Ruggles (Laughton) has been reading about America and he knows what Lincoln said. What follows is one of the most stirring renditions of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address you may ever hear. Somewhere along the line, Hollywood lost this kind of unapologetic expression of patriotism. But every once in a while, it's refreshing to see that is was there once and could one day, be there again.