The Sun Shines Bright [Blu-ray]

Director: John Ford John Ford

Overview

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."

Product Details

Release Date:	03/26/2013
UPC:	0887090058209
Original Release:	1953
Rating:	NR
Source:	Olive
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	19,522

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charles Winninger	Judge William Pittman Priest
Arleen Whelan	Lucy Lee Lake
John Russell	Ashby Corwin
Milburn Stone	Horace K. Maydew
Stepin Fetchit	Jeff Poindexter
Russell Simpson	Dr. Lewt Lake
Ludwig Stossel	Herman Felsburg
Francis Ford	Feeney
Paul Hurst	Sgt. Jimmy Bagby
Mitchell Lewis	Sheriff Andy Redcliffe
Grant Withers	Buck Ramsey
Dorothy Jordan	Lucy's Mother
Elzie Emanuel	U.S. Grant Woodford
Henry O'Neill	Jody Habersham
Slim Pickens	Mink Sterling
James Kirkwood	General Fairfield
Ernest Whitman	Uncle Pleasant Woodford
Trevor Bardette	Rufe Ramseur
Eve March	Mallie Cramp
Hal Baylor	Ramseur
Jane Darwell	Mrs. Amora Ratchitt
Ken Williams	Maydew's Henchman
Clarence Muse	Uncle Zach
Mae Marsh	G.A.R. Lady at Ball
Jack Pennick	Beaker
Patrick Wayne	Cadet
Victor Young	Composer

Technical Credits

Laurence Stallings

Merian C. Cooper	Producer
John Ford	Producer,Director
Laurence Stallings	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Since legendary and iconic director John Ford considers The Sun Shines Bright to be one of his personal favorites of his own movies, one approaches it with high expectations. Unfortunately, despite Ford's expert work and the admirable leading performance of Charles Winninger, modern viewers are likely to wonder at just why Ford ranks it so high in his list. The problem, as you may have guessed, lies primarily with the screenplay which is mawkish and overly sentimental, as well as often too predictable. Worse for latter day viewers, the film indulges in some racial stereotyping that is patently offensive. Still, Bright does have Ford at the helm, and his love for the film and for the simple-but-wise judge that is its lead comes through quite powerfully. Ford' incredible skill also comes through, albeit in spurts. He gives in to the sentimentality a bit too much, but he also knows the most powerful way to frame a shot and just how to pull forth a reaction when he wants it. And the funeral sequence is stunningly realized. The film also benefits from Winninger's jim-dandy performance, the glue that holds the picture together. His natural warmth is there, of course, but he finds layers and nuances to the man that are a tremendous help in getting the film over its rough spots. Adding together the film's pluses and minuses, the result comes across ahead, if not the meaningful work it was to its creator.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler