A CONNECTICUT YANKEE
US, 1931, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Will Rogers, Maureen O'Sullivan, Myrna Loy, Frank Albertson, William Farnum
Directed by David Butler.
A Connecticut Yankee is an early talking version of Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. It was made as a silent film, as a comedy musical with Bing Crosby and Cedric Hardwicke in the late '40s, as a Disney comedy, The Unidentified Flying Oddball, with Jim Dale, and also as a lavish telemovie with Malcolm Mc Dowall as King Arthur.
This is a star vehicle for the very genial Will Rogers and is an opportunity to see him at his easy best. The supporting cast includes a very young Maureen O'Sullivan at the beginning of her career and Myrna Loy as Morgan Le Fay. William Farnum enjoys himself as King Arthur.
The film is updated from Twain's day to the '30s - but has the laconic and easy spoof atmosphere of Twain's writing. It is particularly enjoyable to see Hank Martin, the Connecticut Yankee, transform Camelot into industrial America of the late '20s with phones, factories, cars and planes. There are some amusing contemporary historical references - especially to Mussolini's fascism in Hank being called Sir Boss. There is also a scene where Hank is menaced by sword-wielding enemies and he shoots his enemies - 50 years before Indiana Jones did the same thing.
The direction is by David Butler, director of many comedies and musicals of the '30s and '40s.
1.Entertaining comedy of 1931? Opportunity to see Will Rogers? Popularity of Mark Twain? Updating and adaptation?
2.Black and white photography, Connecticut and Camelot? Enjoyment of the anachronistic presentation of an industrialised Camelot? Musical score?
3.Mark Twain and his popular fantasy, his spoof of society and the United States?
4.Will Rogers and his easy style, the radio entertainer, Hank Martin the broadcast man, his job, the programs, going to the castle, meeting the characters? The owner of the castle and his wanting to be in touch with King Arthur and Camelot?
5.Connecticut turning into Camelot? American style? Sir Sagramore and his taking Hank? The court and the language? Thees and thous? Arthur and the sinister Merlin? Hank in prison, the discussion with Clarence, not knowing whether he was a boy or a girl, renaming him? On the lookout for his ancestors? His notebook and his being able to use it for the eclipse of the sun? About to be burnt, his magic and the eclipse? Success?
6.The cigarette lighter and his outwitting Merlin? Becoming Sir Boss? The industry in Camelot, the parallel with American industry and hours, clocking in etc? Phones and secretaries? The challenge by Sir Sagramore? The tournament? His using his lasso and winning?
7.The plot about King Arthur's daughter? Morgan Le Fay and her watching the tournament? Going to her castle, the plot, their being captured? Betrayal? Prison? Flirting with Morgan Le Fay? Her refusing to hand over her captives? The build-up to the hanging sequence? The helicopter arriving? The escape?
8.King Arthur and his bumptious style? His Knights of the Round Table? Jokes about Lions and Rotary Club speeches? Morgan and her evil? Sagramore as the traitor? Merlin and his sinister magic, the traitor? Clarence and his becoming a knight, becoming Hank's ancestor - and the enjoyable playing with time-travel?
9.Enjoying the anachronisms? The language and jokes?
10.The finale and the truth about the asylum, the man who thought he was Arthur, listening to a radio play? Hank and the experience of Camelot?
