Harlan Thompson

Charles Laughton stars in this hilarious tale of Marmaduke Ruggles, a stuffy British butler, traded in a poker game from an English Earl (Roland Young) to a wealthy and rowdy American, Egbert Floud (Charlie Ruggles). Ruggles' new home is Red Gap, Washington, where he is introduced by Egbert as "Colonel" Ruggles. The town ladies are quite taken by the sophisticated servant in disguise as he enamors them with fictitious stories of battles gone by. Ruggles proves his newfound patriotism in one of the best scenes of the film, his recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in the Silver Dollar Saloon. The dream of freedom leads him to open his own restaurant, where one of his first customers is the Duke who has come to reclaim his former servant. Supporting performances by ZaSu Pitts and Mary Boland add to the popularity of this charming, light-hearted classic.

The 1940's hottest movie trio - Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour - chart a course for comedy and romance in Road to Singapore. Running out on his stuffy desk job and marriage-minded girlfriend, Josh Mallon (Crosby) links up with sailor-buddy Ace (Hope) and sets sail for the farthest point on the map - Singapore. On the exotic island of Kaigoon, they meet Mima (Lamour), a lovely young dancer cruelly dominated by her whip-cracking partner-fiance (Anthony Quinn). Josh and Ace rescue Mima, who moves into their shack, cooks, cleans, sings - and quickly becomes the object of their wise-cracking war for her affections. A top grosser of 1940, Singapore was the initial entry in the legendary Hope-Crosby-Lamour Road series that delighted movie-goers for over 20 fun-filled years.

The Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour Road series began with this romp about two traveling buddies that meet up with a dancer who becomes the object of their fight for her affection.

Ruggles is the ultra-obedient manservant to the Earl of Burnstead. Rich American cattle baron Egbert Floud wins Ruggles in a poker game. Consequently, Ruggles is forced to move with his new owner and must become accustomed to America's way of life.