Review of Judge Priest (1934) by Bill M — 28 Jul 2009
John Ford's often whimsical view of 19th century mid-west America is on full display in this comic reflection about, as the author's prologue puts it, "the familiar ghosts of my own boyhood".
The immensely likable Will Rogers is the title character. His warmth and low-key charm translates on screen to the equivalent of a kind of simple, populist wisdom. The film does feature more Stepen Fetchit than any modern viewer can watch without cringing.
Ford would go on to hone the kind of bawdy, knockabout humor found here almost constantly throughout his career. As such, Judge Priest may not quite be amongst the great directors very best work but, with the help of the talented Rogers it is still an enjoyable entry.
This review of Judge Priest (1934) was written by Bill M on 28 Jul 2009.
Judge Priest has generally received mixed reviews.
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