Red Skelton: The Lost Episodes on DVD

Red Skelton, the clown prince of classic television, dominated U.S. airwaves for 20 years. In fact, when CBS cancelled the The Red Skelton Hour in 1970--after its 19th season--Red's show still ranked in the Top Ten in the Nielsen ratings. CBS's decision was driven by its desire to attract younger, more urban viewers (for the same reason, it canceled The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and other hits). Red promptly moved over to NBC for his 20th season, but his revamped show never found an audience and thus ended an amazing run for his variety series.

Red Skelton's diehard fans probably already own Red Skelton: The Collector Edition, an 18-disc DVD set containing 63 shows that was released by Timeless Media in 2010. However, for classic TV fans interested in a sampling of some of Red's best sketches, Timeless Media will release Red Skelton: The Lost Episodes on February 11th.

Red, as Deadeye, with Terry Moore.

This new set consists of 16 episodes culled from seasons 8 through 11 when the show was a half-hour long. There are also two "extras" from the 1960-61 season which featured guest hosts for several episodes while Skelton was recuperating from back surgery. Jackie Gleason and Arthur Godfrey banter back and forth in the first of these extras, while the second one contains snippets of an episode hosted by Danny Thomas.

San Fernando teaches Fabian how
to perform like Fabian.

The 16 Skelton episodes feature all of Red's best-known characters: Freddie the Freeloader; Sheriff Deadeye; country bumpkin Clem Kadiddlehopper; con man San Fernando Red; and bespectacled husband George Appleby. Red's guest star line-up includes Eve Arden, Marilyn Maxwell, Charles Ruggles,Gordon & Sheila MacRae, Vivian Vance, Sebastian Cabot, Fabian, and Amanda Blake. As with many classic TV shows, you can also spot future stars who were then unknowns, such as George Kennedy, Jamie Farr, and Jack Albertson.

My favorites of the 16 episodes were "San Fernando and the Phony Fabians" and "Mr. K. Goes to College." In the former, San Fernando Red plays an agent who makes a fortune by sending "phony Fabians" to countries who have never seen the pop singing idol (e.g., New Zealand, Peru, Japan). He supplies each impersonator with a "Fabian kit," consisting of a record player and a Fabian record ("You supply the body, we supply the voice"). San Fernando's con works well until the real Fabian shows up.

Clem mailed himself to college
to save money.

In "Mr. K. Goes to College," Clem Kadiddlehopper enrolls in Kadiddlehopper College, which was founded by one of his ancestors. Unfortunately, after meeting the not-so-bright Clem, the dean realizes that the college's chances of winning a $5 million academic grant are in peril. This sketch provides Red with an opportunity to display his natural talent for physical comedy, whether nailing his thumb to the wall ("Now, I have six nails on this hand") or pushing a peanut with his nose. And, of course, all the episodes feature such Skelton trademarks as laughing at his own jokes or delivering a funny impromptu line when guests flub their dialogue or a prop fails to work.

All of the footage is in black and white (some of Red's earlier and later shows were shot in color). The image quality is good, considering that some episodes are almost 55 years old. If you own a previous Red Skelton Show collection, I recommend that you check the titles on The Lost Episodes DVD set to minimize overlap.

The bottom line is that, at a list price of $14.93, Red Skelton: The Lost Episodes will appeal to Red's fans who can't afford the more expensive Collector Edition. Other classic TV fans should welcome an opportunity to watch one of the medium's true pioneers of comedy.

Timeless Media provided the Cafe with a review copy of this DVD set.

Ruggles of Red Gap: What Price Freedom?

Freedom isn’t free. There is always a price that must be paid.

An excellent example of this is on display in this lesser-seen gem starring the phenomenally talented Charles Laughton as Ruggles of Red Gap. Ruggles is a very proper manservant to Lord Burnstead in England. His employer, however, offers him as chattel as part of a bet that he loses in a poker game to some unusual Americans, Egbert and Effie Floud (Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland). Effie is thrilled beyond belief that this valet will be able to influence her wealthy, but decidedly uncultured, husband. But Egbert has other ideas. He is glad to have a new buddy and introduces Ruggles as “the Colonel” to the townsfolk back home in the U.S.

Ruggles is like a fish out of water. He doesn’t quite know what to make of this situation. He is an excellent servant but confused as to what his responsibilities are supposed to be in this household that is so decidedly different from the one he has known in England. Still, he is impressed with something he never quite grasped before. There are opportunities in this new country for everyone who is willing to work hard.

Ruggles befriends Mrs. Judson (ZaSu Pitts) and demonstrates his remarkable cooking abilities. Soon, the man who was displaced from his comfortable employment into a brand new environment is learning what it means to be a free man.

In the most touching scene of a movie that is mostly filled with humor, Egbert attempts to quote Lincoln’s Gettysburg address in the Silver Dollar Saloon when the quiet and gentle voice of Ruggles eloquently recites it in full. It is a remarkable moment and one that always makes me thankful for the many blessings afforded to us in our beloved country.

Like Ruggles, Charles Laughton began his career in England, but traveled to America to enhance his acting opportunities. He made his Broadway debut in 1931 and enjoyed almost immediate success in both American and British talking pictures. By 1933, he already won a Best Actor Oscar for the title role in The Private Life of Henry VIII. Following the release of Ruggles in 1934, Laughton enjoyed a remarkable period in his career, starring in Les Miserables (1934), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), Rembrandt (1936), and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939).

The supporting cast sparkles in Ruggles of Red Gap, especially Charles Ruggles who plays the endearing Egbert. It’s the “nouveau riche” Egbert who personifies the American spirit in the film. He accepts every person as his equal, never forgets a friend, and ignores any distinction between classes.

It’s interesting that the film’s most powerful scene—Ruggles’s reciting of the Gettysburg address—wasn’t in the original 1914 novel. But that scene and the strong performances give Ruggles a depth that’s totally missing in the 1950 Bob Hope remake Fancy Pants.

If you’ve never seen Ruggles of Red Gap, it makes for excellent viewing on this patriotic holiday. I truly hope that each and every American celebrates today with thanks given to our Lord and to those who made our freedom possible. Happy Fourth of July!