Wichita's Hattie McDaniel in "Judge Priest" (1934)

Starring Wichita's, Hattie McDaniel

"Judge Priest" is a 1934 heartwarming and humorous classic starring Will Rogers as the beloved Judge William "Billy" Priest. 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.

Plot:
Judge Priest, a proud Confederate veteran, uses common sense and considerable humanity to dispense justice in a small town in the Post-Bellum Kentucky. He confounds civic leaders with his laid-back approach to his job. The widowed judge helps uphold the law in his toughest court case yet. In the meantime, he plays matchmaker for his young nephew. Priest deals with everyone from the Daughters of the Confedracy to former slaves with humor and the same lack of pretension. His sister-in-law objects to his nephew Jerome's interest in Ellie May Gillespie, a pretty young girl whose pedigree is unclear. When the mysterious loner Bob Gillis becomes involved in a stabbing incident involving the honor of Ellie May, Priest is asked by a rival to recuse himself from presiding at the trial.

Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel (last name appears as "McDaniels" in the opening credits) was just beginning her trek to stardom when she shot Judge Priest. Before this film she was a relatively unknown actress. Stepin Fetchit apparently doubted her acting abilities at the beginning of the production, but soon realized he was working with a very talented performer. Director John Ford noted McDaniel's acting talents. Ford cut some of Fetchit's scenes and gave McDaniel additional scenes. This created an initial rift between these two pioneering black actors.

Music featuring McDaniel:
"My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night" (Music and lyrics by Stephen Foster) – Sung by Hattie McDaniel, Melba Brown, Thelma Brown, Vera Brown, Will Rogers and others
"Aunt Dilsey's Improvisation" (Written by Hattie McDaniel) – Sung by Hattie McDaniel
"Massa Jesus Wrote Me a Note" (Music by Cyril J. Mockridge, lyrics by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti) – Sung by Hattie McDaniel and others at the festival
"Little Brown Jug" (Music and lyrics by Joseph Winner) – Sung by Hattie McDaniel
"Aunt Dilsey's Song" (Music by Cyril J. Mockridge, lyrics by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti) – Sung by Hattie McDaniel

Cast:
Will Rogers as Judge William 'Billy' Priest
Tom Brown as Jerome Priest
Anita Louise as Ellie May Gillespie
Hattie McDaniel as Aunt Dilsey
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
Stepin Fetchit as Jeff Poindexter
Winter Hall as Judge Floyd Fairleigh (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook as Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)

The film was a success at the box office. It was one of Fox's biggest hits of the year (five of the studio's seven big hits starred Rogers)

The film remains controversial, however, for its romanticized evocation of a South still steeped in Confederate pride and for the stereotyped roles played by Black actors Stepin Fetchit and Hattie McDaniel.

---

This video is for educational, historical, and informational purposes only and has not been monetized in any manner whatsoever. This video has been posted to be ad-free.

In Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the US Copyright Law and under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, historic preservation, scholarships, education and research.

Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.