Fri-mat

Compared to yesterday’s the opening music even announces it will be far lighter … more below the film.

As I was not an adult back then, not even a child … it was a child’s eye view I had … you had … of movies/films.  Hollywood was not a dirty word, there were things going on in the world, for adults mainly, which made the movies a blessed relief.

The things I like now about US films of the time was the Code, the absence of rainbow issues which infected Brit films, the way it turned out for the best at the end, the lack of gloom. Similar was happening with Soviet cinema … staroye kino or old film they called it, which focussed on everyday life and the issues which arose.

It took awhile for British cinema to get to its feet again … Alastair Sim, John Mills etc., then Michael Caine and so on, while the US had gone down the sci fi path, then grittier themes.  Naturally, there’ll be those saying that’s all rubbish but look at the films we’ve had here.

Review

“"A Stranger in Town" holds up very well after sixty-three years. The only part that seems curious and quaint today is the closing with Joe Grant (The Wizard of Oz, aka Frank Morgan) giving a rousing patriotic speech (remember this was made during the height of World War II). The court packing scheme of President Roosevelt was still fresh on the movie goer's mind, having been all over the news a short six years earlier. So having a Supreme Court justice go incognito was apropos in 1943. Today, few would recognize a Supreme Court justice if they tripped over one. So no need for a disguise. Changing times.

Associate Justice Josephus Grant attempting to get away from it all goes on a duck-hunting vacation to the small town of Crown Port. He no sooner arrives than he is arrested and tried for not having a local hunting license but in reality because he wouldn't pay off the local police official who caught him. It becomes obvious to Grant that he has chosen a corrupt town for his vacation. Enter a reform candidate for mayor, Bill Adams (Richard Carlson), who has virtually given up any hope of winning. Grant rallies Adams onward and upward by teaching him tricks of the trade in the court room. 

Fighting city hall becomes more fun when Grant's business-like, yet attractive and smart, secretary, Lucy Gilbert (Jean Rogers), comes to town to bring Grant important papers concerning a case the Court is hearing. Yes, it is love at first sight between Adams and Lucy. Much of the fun centers on Adams' clumsiness and shyness in trying to court Lucy. The election heats up with all sorts of humorous skulduggery until the showdown involving a free-for-all brawl on the street in front of Adams' campaign headquarters.

This film is so fast-paced, with fine acting by all involved, including a gallery of character actors such as Chill Wills, Olin Howland, Donald MacBride, Porter Hall, and even Eddy Waller in a bit part, that it proves extremely entertaining with many a wry comment on the politics of the day, which are not unlike the politics of today.”