• It’s the best Will Rogers screen vehicle—a great pairing of his folksy comedic vaudeville talent and John Ford’s unique cinema world
  • 2nd of 3 films they made together (sadly Rogers died at age 55 in 1935)—first was doctor bull (not great) and this is second. I haven’t seen 1935’s steamboat round the bend yet—but without his death it’s likely that this paring would’ve continued and been very fruitful. You can even see Rogers playing roles in young Mr. Lincoln, stagecoach or grapes of wrath
  • Populist broad humor with Ford’s sense of community and fellowship
  • The title is just that—similar to the Ward Bond character in the searchers– religious figure and municipal or community crime fighter
  • It’s a yarn or tall tale—shots of Rogers on the bench remind me of Harry Carey’s mannerisms as the judge in mr smith goes to washington
  • Rogers was a vaudeville performer—Kentucky here- we have “old Kentucky home”- again- heavy in folklore, front porch rocking chair rural America
  • His character defends a stranger, a black man and a woman from a not so great family against rich and fancy people (usually corrupt)
  • Court room humor — young mr. Lincoln (which came after of course)
  • Rogers displays great charm here and skill with is duet with Hattie McDaniel as they sing together
  • Americana—ritual, music and a town dance. Such folksy authenticity
  • Charley Grapewin from grapes of wrath
  • Breton Churchill as the heavy as he would play often for Ford
  • R/HR border