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20SmokeSignalsunlikethatofRomeoandJulietortheHatfieldandMcCoys.EstherRalstonwastheleadingladyNoahBerryandJackLaRuethevillainsandasoontobemegastarfouryearoldShirleyTempleinanuncreditedrole.FilmedonlocationatBigBearLakeitwasthebestoftheZaneGreystoriestodate.TheLastRoundup1934basedonGreysTheBorderLegionco-starredJoanRandallMonteBlueFuzzyKnightandFredKohler.ThefilmwaswellreceivedasaBwesternwiththeHollywoodReportercommendingitintheirreviewTheLastRoundupisoneofthebestofthebestWesterns.Itpacksawallopthatishighwideandfancy.ScottalsobeganshowingsignsofhisbeingthestrongsilenttypeWesternerhewouldportraythroughouthislengthycareer.WagonWheels1934wasbasicallyaremakeofGaryCoopersFightingCaravans1931andtheyusedmuchofthestockfootagefromtheearlierfilm.RockyMountainMystery1935withbeautifulAnnSheridanfollowed.HoweveritwasthelastoftheParamountZaneGreywesterns.RandolphScottinarareinterviewashedidnotlikedoingthemwasappreciativeoftheapprenticeshiphereceivedwhilemakingthefilmsatParamount.HesaidTheworkishardterriblyhard.TheyusuallymaketheminfourteendaysworkingallhandssixdaysaweekandonSunday.Yougetupat4oclockandworkalldayunderabroilingsun...whenthesunsetsyouhaveabriefrecessforsupperandstartmakinginteriorsceneswhichkeepyougoinguntilaboutmidnight...ButIbelieveitisthefinesttrainingintheworld...Ifacedeveryobstaclethatafilmactororproductionunitcanfind.Thenextsixfilmswerenon-westernswithanewstudioRKO.Howeverafewareworthnoting.Roberta1935aPedroBermanpicturestarredIreneDunneFredAstaireandGingerRogers.Scottreceivedfourthbilling.ThemusicalcomedyledtoalifetimefriendshipwithoneofScottsclosestfriendstheoneandonlyFredAstaire.Randywastall63andmuscularandFredwassmaller59andgraceful.ThetwobecameavidLosAngelesDodgersfansaftertheteammovedfromBrooklyn.Bothmenwerealwaysclassygentlemenhoweverattheballparktheyyelledandharanguedtheumpireswiththebestofthem.She1935wasproducedbythelegendaryMerianC.CooperthecreatorofKingKong.TheadventurestorywasbaseduponthenovelbyH.RiderHaggardwhopreviouslywroteKingSolomonsMine.ApopularBroadwaysingeractressHelenGahaganwasselectedtocostarwithRandolphScott.Itwasheronlyfilmrole.TheactresswasmarriedtothewonderfulactorMelvynDouglas.HelenDouglaswentintopoliticsandservedtwotermsinCongressfromCalifornia.ThenextnoteworthyRKOfilmwasFollowtheFleet1936producedbyPandroS.BermandirectedbyMarkSandrichmusicandlyricsbyIrvingBerlinandchoreographybyHermesPan.ItstarredFredAstaireandGingerRogers.ScottwasthethirdleadandhisloveinterestwasbigbandsingerHarrietHilliardlaterHarrietNelson.Scottplayedthewomanizingloveemandleaveemsailoronshoreleave.FredAstaireinhismemoirStepsinTimerecallsascenewherehewastoswingandhitScottforhispersonaltransgressions.Hewasapprehensiveashedidnthavetheexperiencethathiscostarhadinpullingonespunch.WhenthetimecameformetoswingIgotcarriedawayandbroughtonewayupfrommyshoelacesthatreallyclippedRandyonthemouthbringingbloodandalmostflooringhim.TheSheriffhadeveryreasontobeannoyedwithmebutifhewashenevershowedit.AlwaystheSoutherngentleman.In1936RandolphScottwascastasHawkeyeinanUnitedArtistsproductionofJamesFenimoreCooperspopularnovelLastoftheMohicans.HewassupportedbyBinnieBarnesHeatherAngelHenryWilcoxonPhillipReedRobertBarratandBruceCabotasthetreacherousMagua.ItisanAfilmineveryaspectandafinancialhit.RegardingScottsperformancetheLondonTimessaidMr.ScottalmostsucceedsinmakingsomethinghumanoutofHawkeye.TheNewYorkTimesreviewincludedYoungMr.ScottisproperlydashingastheheroicHawkeye.OnapersonalnoteRandolphScottalongwithCaryGrantweretwoofthemosteligiblebachelorsinHollywoodinthe30sandearly40s.Bothwerealsoknowntobelegendarytightwadswhenitcametospendingtheirownmoney.Theybecameverygoodfriendsandroomedtogethertosavemoneyinapopularbachelorspadatthebeach.ActressCarolLombardcommentedontheirbeingthriftyCaryopenedthebills.Randywrotethechecks.AndifCarycouldtalksomeoneoutofastamphemailedthem.In1936ScottmarriedMarionduPontHIGHNOONRandolphScottcontinuedfrompage15