83 years ago...
Judge Priest (1934)
Director: John Ford
Country: United States
Length: 80 minutes
Type: Comedy, Drama, Propaganda
John Ford's 'Judge Priest' is a very frustrating watch. For the most part, it's a beautifully evocative story, full of warmth and humour about
"The South" but it's also full of vile
Racism. I was shocked that the review in the book by
Martin Rubin only mentions that the film has "dated" well (His review is from 2003, or earlier). In fact, not only is the film horribly dated in it's portrayal of the two Black characters but his review is dated too. I can't imagine a film critic getting away with ignoring the racism in 2017.
'Judge Priest' is hateful Propaganda about
"The Lost Cause", the
'United Daughters of the Confederacy' (whose monuments the US are currently finally tearing down) and the idiotic idea that Black people were happy to be subservient to whites, singing Southern songs about "Darkies" and playing "Dixy" on the harmonica. The two black characters are treated with love and kindness but the sort of kindness you'd show to a dog, or a child. It should be noted that
Henry Walthall takes a central role in a deliberate refrence to his lead character in 1915 rascist Epic
'Birth of a Nation'. I noticed that there were many clips from 'Judge Priest' in
Public Enemy's 1990 music-video
'Burn Hollywood Burn'. Used to illustrate the very worst depictions of African-Americans in Hollywood movies:
That aside (and it's difficult to put it to one side) the film is well worth seeing.
Will Rogers plays the title role with such humanity and understatement. A character that seems amiable and carefree on the surface but clearly is a man of deep feeling underneath. A lovely and sad scene of Priest, after having spent the evening jovially match-making for his beloved nephew, retires alone to his bedroom to talk to a picture of his departed wife about his day. The light-dappled cinematography really brings old Kentucky to life.
Another Frank Capra film next.