Laughing Boy (film) explained

Laughing Boy
Director:W. S. Van Dyke
Producer:Hunt Stromberg
W. S. Van Dyke
Screenplay:John Colton
John Lee Mahin
Based On:Laughing Boy by Oliver La Farge
Starring:Ramón Novarro
Lupe Vélez
Music:Herbert Stothart
Cinematography:Lester White
Editing:Blanche Sewell
Distributor:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Runtime:79 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

Laughing Boy is a 1934 pre-Code Western film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and is based on the 1929 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Oliver La Farge.

Plot

Slim Girl is an Indian maiden raised by whites, who call her Lily. Many members of the Navajo tribe shun Slim Girl, believing her to be leading an improper life, perhaps even as a prostitute.

Laughing Boy, a silversmith, is seduced by her. After losing a horse race, he challenges rival Red Man to a wrestling match and wins. This impresses Slim Girl, who expresses her desire for him. She returns to her previous intimate relationship, however, with George Hartshorne, a rich rancher.

One day Slim Girl seeks out Laughing Boy, becomes his lover, and persuades him to marry her. But when she goes to town to sell his silver goods, Laughing Boy follows and finds her in Hartshorne's arms. He fires an arrow at Hartshorne but ends up killing Slim Girl instead.

Cast

Actor Role
Ramón NavarroLaughing Boy
Slim Girl
George Hartshorne
Wounded Face

Production

John Lee Mahin said MGM bought the rights to the play on his recommendation. Mahin claims the film was ruined by the casting of Ramon Navarro. "He looked like an old whore, with his hair hanging down and a blanket on." Mahin said "They should have had some virile young guy, Tyrone Power or somebody" although he liked Lupe Velez. "If you'd had somebody comparable to her and if you'd played the sad ending, you would have had a movie. It's very hard dialogue too. I don’t know whether anybody could have played it. Their speeches were so up in the clouds. Oh, it was awful!"[1]

Reception

The film was a box-office disappointment for MGM.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Todd. McCarthy. Joseph. McBride. John Lee Mahin: Team Player. Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age. Patrick McGilligan. 257. University of California Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=sWewbX79ISsC&q=john+lee+mahin+interview&pg=PA241. 1986. 9780520056893.
  2. News: Taking a Look at the Record. D. W.. Nov 25, 1934. The New York Times. .