The Story of Will Rogers

This one is now out on DVD in the Warner Archives Collection. I saw this picture when it first came out - I was 11 at the time and I wanted to see if it held up in the ensuing 58 years, and I'm pleased to report it is just as entertaining and absorbing the second time around.

Such is not always the case. I did the same thing with "The High And The Mighty", and was disappointed at how trite and stagey the picture seemed when I saw it recently. But "Will Rogers" holds up, probably because it is a biography of a very famous American from the early part of the last century. Then as now, I was fascinated by what a dead ringer for his dad Will Rogers, Jr. was. I also think the movie benefited from a superior direction job.

Can I make one criticism? I didn't think Jane Wyman fit the part of a girlfriend/ wife from Oologah, Okla. She was too sophisticated, like a society chick from Riverside Drive who wouldn't bother with a bumpkin from Oologah. But that's just me.

In any case, this is worth buying and watching. I don't think it will be on TV any time soon as there are two scenes of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson performing in blackface. Can't upset the PC crowd, you know.

This is an amazing tale of a person who lived and made his claim to fame in the early decades of the 20th century. There were so many apt points he made about politics that are spot on about our current political world. We could sure use someone like him now to take a bite out of the polarization we have now about political issues. He maintained that we all care about each other and that as long as we have that the U.S. will never go down. We could definitely benefit from such ideas today. Great movie, great cast. Will Rogers Jr. portraying his dad. Jane Wyman as the love of his life. Great family and feel good movie. I viewed it on TCM, if you get the chance, don't miss it!

Most biopics leave a lot to be desired...especially those made during the classic era in Hollywood. Too often the actual lives of these heroes have been changed in order to make them seem more cinematic....and lying and twisting the facts is pretty much par for the course. Some films don't even have much to do with the actual person they are portraying (such as "Night and Day" and "Words and Music").

In light of this, I was shocked that for the most part "The Story of Will Rogers" is mostly the actual life and career of the man! Now I am not saying it's perfect, as for example, Will's father had died long before and the film must have assumed the man was a zombie! But apart from that and a few small items, the film IS the life of Will Rogers.

To play the man, the studio did something unusual. First, they consulted with Rogers' widow (why they actually wanted to get the facts right is beyond me!). Second, they got Rogers' son, Will Jr., to play him. Now Will Jr. Didn't look exactly like his dad (I think he actually looked more like Chill Wills), but he was pretty close and captured the man pretty well.

Why do I think they got Rogers' life right? Well, I think two reason account for this. First, Rogers DID so many amazing things that there wasn't the same need to embellish it to 'spice it up'. Second, as Rogers was such a public figure, had they NOT stuck to the facts, folks would have noticed.

So, overall it's a very good film and an excellent overview of the actor/humorist's life. Well worth seeing.

This is an excellent film with an outstanding cast, and a very authentic feel to the overall presentation. Will Rogers, Jr. becomes Will Rogers, Sr. This is a good story about an outstanding "American" personality, and it should definitely be made available on video for all "Americans" to see, especially during these trying times when patriotism, honesty and goodwill could use a shot-in-the-arm. Hopefully it will be make the step to video in the very near future.

I agree with the previous commenter about how good this movie is and would love to see it available on video. This movie was made in 1952 and starred Will Rogers Jr. It showed Will Rogers Jr, as his father, doing some performance on Broadway as well as some of the fund-raisers he did during the depression and more of the movies he made in Hollywood. However this website is showing a picture of a movie made in 1961, narrated by Bob Hope, and it is NOT the same movie that they are describing. The one narrated by Bob Hope, is available on video (dvd), and although it is a good biographical movie of Will Rogers, it is NOT the one starring Will Rogers Jr, or any of the other stars listed on this web site. They need to remove that picture as it can cause some confusion for some people.