David Harum (1934)

• Director
  • James Cruze
• Writers
  • Edward Noyes Wescott(story)
  • Walter Woods(screenplay)
• Stars
  • Will Rogers
  • Louise Dresser
  • Evelyn Venable

  Previously filmed in 1915, David Harum is the story of an upstate New York rancher devoted to trotting races. Will Rogers makes no attempt to alter his Oklahoma accent as David Harum, but audiences in the 1930s came to see Rogers and not the character. After several examples of his horse-trading savvy, David settles down to the business at hand: playing Cupid for young Evelyn Venable and Kent Taylor. The film ends with the anticipated championship trotting race, with Harum's horse being galvanized into action by the song "Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-yay".David Harum has a wonderful improvisational feel about it, especially in the scenes between Rogers and African-American comedian Step'n Fetchit.