The Sun Shines Bright (1953)

79% of users liked it
(450 ratings)

Director John Ford, notoriously difficult to please, regarded The Sun Shines Bright as his favorite film. Laurence Stalllings' screenplay is based on several short stories by Kentucky humorist Irvin S. Cobb, some of which had previously been cinematized in Ford's 1934 Will Rogers vehicle Judge… More Director John Ford, notoriously difficult to please, regarded The Sun Shines Bright as his favorite film. Laurence Stalllings' screenplay is based on several short stories by Kentucky humorist Irvin S. Cobb, some of which had previously been cinematized in Ford's 1934 Will Rogers vehicle Judge Priest. Charles Winninger stars as Judge William Pittman Priest, whose down-home, common-sense approach to his job has endeared himself to most of the residents of his small Kentucky home town, while alienating many of the "better" people. Up for election, Judge Priest is challenged by a Yankee upstart who has most of the influential citizens in his pocket. Almost deliberately courting defeat, the doggedly honest Priest champions several unpopular causes. In the film's most memorable scene, the Judge arranges a fancy funeral procession for an impoverished town prostitute. The film retains much of the charm of its predecessor Judge Priest; unfortunately (at least by P.C. standards), The Sun Shines Bright also retains the most questionable aspect of the earlier film: the stereotyped routines of African-American comedian Stepin Fetchit. One hardly knows how to react to the sequence in which the supplicative Fetchit tries to hush up a defiant young black man who is in danger of being lynched (Ford plays this scene for laughs!) While Fetchit's participation will hardly endear the film to modern audiences, it is unfair to write off the rest of The Sun Shines Bright, which otherwise fully lives up to director Ford's affectionate assessment. Long available only in its 90 minute release version, the film has in recent years been restored to the 100-minute "director's cut." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: John Ford
Written By: Laurence Stallings
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 2, 1953 Limited
On DVD: Jul 26, 1990
Studio: Republic Pictures Corporation

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A heavy mix of mushy sentimentality and low-brow comedy.

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Cast

            Charles Winninger as Judge William Pittman Priest

            Arleen Whelan as Lucy Lee Lake

            John Russell as Ashby Corwin

            Stepin Fetchit as Jeff Poindexter

            Russell Simpson as Dr. Lewt Lake

            Ludwig Stossel as Herman Felsburg

            Francis Ford as Feeney

            Paul Hurst as Sgt. Jimmy Bagby

            Mitchell Lewis as Sheriff Andy Redcliffe

            Grant Withers as Buck Ramsey

            Milburn Stone as Horace K. Maydew

            Dorothy Jordan as Lucy's mother

            Elzie Emanuel as U.S. Grant Woodford

            Henry O'Neill as Jody Habersham

            Slim Pickens as Mink Sterling

            Ernest Whitman as Uncle Pleasant Woodford

            Trevor Bardette as Rufe Ramseur

            Eve March as Mallie Cramp

            Hal Baylor as Ramseur

            Jane Darwell as Mrs. Amora Ratchitt

            Ken Williams as Maydew's Henchman

            Clarence Muse as Uncle Zach

            Mae Marsh as Old Lady at Ball

            James Kirkwood as General Fairfield

            Patrick Wayne as Cadet

            Jack Pennick as Beaker
See full cast

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