John Ford- Judge Priest (1934)

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JUDGE PRIEST

DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD
PRODUCED BY SOL M. WURTZEL
FOX FILM CORPORATION

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Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
Judge William "Billy" Priest lives in a very patriotic
(Confederate) southern town.
Priest plays a laid-back, widowed judge who helps uphold the law
in his toughest court case yet.
In the meantime, he plays matchmaker for his young nephew.
Written by marsattack

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

Full Cast
Will Rogers ... Judge William 'Billy' Priest
Tom Brown ... Jerome Priest
Anita Louise ... Ellie May Gillespie
Henry B. Walthall ... Reverend Ashby Brand
David Landau ... Bob Gillis
Rochelle Hudson ... Virginia Maydew
Roger Imhof ... Billy Gaynor
Frank Melton ... Flem Talley
Charley Grapewin ... Sergeant Jimmy Bagby
Berton Churchill ... Senator Horace Maydew
Brenda Fowler ... Mrs. Caroline Priest
Francis Ford ... Juror No. 12
Hattie McDaniel ... Aunt Dilsey (as Hattie McDaniels)
Stepin Fetchit ... Jeff Poindexter
Melba Brown ... Black Singer (uncredited)
Thelma Brown ... Black Singer (uncredited)
Vera Brown ... Black Singer (uncredited)
Grace Goodall ... Mrs. Maydew (uncredited)
Winter Hall ... Judge Floyd Fairleigh (uncredited)
Pat Hartigan ... Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)
Si Jenks ... Juror No. 10 (uncredited)
Beulah Hall Jones ... Black Singer (uncredited)
Lillian Lawrence ... Townswoman at Trial (uncredited)
Duke R. Lee ... Deputy (uncredited)
Margaret Mann ... Governess (uncredited)
Louis Mason ... Sheriff Birdsong (uncredited)
Paul McAllister ... Doc Lake (uncredited)
Matt McHugh ... Gabby Rives (uncredited)
Paul McVey ... Trimble (uncredited)
Hyman Meyer ... Herman Feldsburg (uncredited)
Frank Moran ... Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)
Robert Parrish ... Taffy Puller at Festival (uncredited)
Vester Pegg ... Joe Herringer (uncredited)
George Reed ... Black Servant (uncredited)
Constantine Romanoff ... Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)
Mary Rousseau ... Guitar Player (uncredited)
Ernest Shields ... Milan (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook ... Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)
Gladys Wells ... Black Singer (uncredited)
Harry Wilson ... Townsman in Saloon (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Irvin S. Cobb (character "Judge Priest")
Dudley Nichols (screenplay) and
Lamar Trotti (screenplay)

Original Music
Samuel Kaylin (uncredited)

Cinematography
George Schneiderman

Trivia
"Based on Irvin S. Cobb's character of 'Judge Priest'" was a compromise onscreen source credit. Fox wanted to use "Based on the Judge Priest Stories by Irwin S. Cobb," but Mr. Cobb objected because he had written over 70 stories, was still writing them, and the statement might inhibit future sales of them.

Fox bought the motion picture rights to the first three stories listed in the literature section. The fourth story, "The Mob from Massac," was inadvertently used without compensation.

Stepin Fetchit reprised his role for the 1953 remake, The Sun Shines Bright.

John Ford later used the line about a drinker's breath being 'like a hot mince pie' in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

Working title was "Judge Old Priest".

Some characters were created exclusively for the film including Ellie May Gillespie, Jerome Priest, and Virginia Maydew.

Memorable Quotes

Watch the Full Movie:-

Judge Priest

[ethanedwards]

Judge Priest is a 1934 American comedy film.
The film was based on humorist Irvin S. Cobb's character Judge Priest.
The film satirizes life in post-reconstruction Kentucky.

User Review

8 August 2003 | by filmart_dd (Adelaide, South Australia)

John Ford adopts and works within the conventions of this homespun genre. As he did with the genre of every film he made. Yes, racial stereotyping -- but Ford knew it was, and let you see it for what it was. Yes, sentimental and corny, but knowing and loving that way, presenting it for what you the viewer want to make of it.

After seventy years, still so funny, so affectionate, so insightful. And topical for 2003: is there any better depiction of populist politics, or expression of faith in the democratic mystery of the common man?

The art that conceals art. Try to see it on a film-projected screen.

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A recent post from Arthur

Hi Elly

If you get a chance to watch it have a look at Ford's Judge Priest it's not bad

Regards

Arthur