JUDGE PRIEST (1934) Will Rogers, Tom Brown & Anita Louise | Comedy, Drama, Romance | B&W

Judge Priest is a 1934 American comedy film starring Will Rogers. The film was directed by John Ford, produced by Sol M. Wurtzel in association with Fox Film, and based on humorist Irvin S. Cobb's character Judge Priest. The picture is set in post-reconstruction Kentucky and the supporting cast features Henry B. Walthall, Hattie McDaniel and Stepin Fetchit. It was remade by Ford in 1953 as The Sun Shines Bright.

SYNOPSIS
Judge Priest, a proud Confederate veteran, uses common sense and considerable humanity to dispense justice in a small town in the Post-Bellum Kentucky.

Personable Judge Priest (Will Rogers), known to his contemporaries as "Billy", presides over court in Fairfield, Kentucky in 1890, Jeff Poindexter is accused of chicken theft. Senator Horace Maydew, a rival in an election bid to the judge's seat, as well as the prosecuting attorney in Jeff's case, who after some distraction by Priest and the court onlookers, is found innocent. Priest befriends Jeff and goes fishing with him after court and hires him in his household. Priest's nephew, Jerome "Rome" Priest has just returned home after studying law and passing the bar, and attempts to rekindle his romance with Ellie May Gillespie, but she explains that she now has other interests. Rome's mother, Mrs. Caroline Priest, has made it her business to enforce propriety and makes it known that she is completely against a match between her son, Rome, and Ellie May, as the young woman's father has been absent and is unknown. Mrs. Priest is vocal about her hopes that Maydew's daughter, Virginia, would be a proper societal match for Rome, and pushes him in that direction. While visiting his late wife's grave, Priest takes note of local townsman, Bob Gillis, who places flowers on Ellie May's late mother's grave which later becomes relevant. Uncouth barber, Flem Talley, has been courting Ellie May, but his unwelcome advances towards Ellie May makes it appear that he's not looking for her hand in marriage.

Flem's barber shop is a busy place, both Priest and Gillis wait their turn as Flem jokes about his courtship with Ellie Mae not heading towards marriage because she "ain't got no Pa". Gillis is immediately offended and punches Flem in the face, knocking him down. Priest expresses his relative approval, which later becomes an argument of bias by Senator Maydew that forces Priest to recuse himself when Gillis is tried for assault. He is accused of assaulting Flem at the pool hall, when in fact Gillis was defending himself from an attack by Flem and two others. Rome is very enthusiastic about representing Gillis in court, as he will be Rome's first client as attorney.

CAST & CREW
Will Rogers as Judge William 'Billy' Priest
Tom Brown as Jerome Priest
Anita Louise as Ellie May Gillespie
Henry B. Walthall as Reverend Ashby Brand
David Landau as Bob Gillis
Rochelle Hudson as Virginia Maydew
Roger Imhof as Billy Gaynor
Frank Melton as Flem Talley
Charley Grapewin as Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
Berton Churchill as Senator Horace Maydew
Brenda Fowler as Mrs. Caroline Priest
Francis Ford as Juror No. 12
Hattie McDaniel as Aunt Dilsey
Stepin Fetchit as Jeff Poindexter

Directed by John Ford
Written by Irvin S. Cobb, Dudley Nichols, Lamar Trotti
Produced by Sol M. Wurtzel
Cinematography George Schneiderman
Edited by Paul Weatherwax
Music by Cyril J. Mockridge
Production company Fox Film Corporation
Distributed by Fox Film Corporation
Release date September 28, 1934
Running time 80 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1,176,000 (U.S. and Canada rentals)

NOTES
Will Rogers
The film played a major role in earning Will Rogers recognition as the number one box office star of 1934. Rogers received critical praise for his performance, some noting that Rogers fell right into the role with his heart-warming personality. Rogers managed a balance of comedic one-liners and serious dramatics. The Tulsa Daily World summed up Rogers' performance: "The star's portrayal of Judge Priest has the mark of authenticity upon it … the unique blending of unique talent with a rich and splendid role." Rogers was killed in a plane crash just a year after the release of Judge Priest.

Stepin Fetchit
In the role as Jeff Poindexter, director John Ford gave Stepin Fetchit some room to expand his comic performance. When Judge Priest asks Jeff why he is not wearing his shoes, Fetchit comically ad libs, "I’m saving them for when my feet wear out." Fetchit was known for attending lavish parties and causing mischief while off the studio lot. Right before the shooting of Judge Priest, Fetchit caused a commotion at a benefit show at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

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