The presence of Stepin Fetchit in a Stepin Fetchit part mars what would otherwise be an enjoyable Will Rogers film. Rogers plays the title role in David Harum, a small town banker who is a pillar of his late Victorian era community who engages in a rivalry over horses with Charles Middleton, they keep trying to sucker the other in horse trading.
As a foil for the folksy Will Rogers, Charles Middleton as the 'Deacon' is almost perfect. Middleton who gained his greatest fame as Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon contrasts beautifully with Rogers. He's a pious old skinflint and he takes over the mortgage on Sarah Padden's home. Watch how Rogers gets her out from under without loss to her pride.
The harness race with Middleton and Rogers at the county fair is something to see. The Great Dan Patch never had to have such incentive to win his race as the horse Rogers drives.
Louise Dresser is fine as Mrs. Rogers and Kent Taylor plays an earnest young apprentice banker who Rogers takes a liking to. Sad, but Stepin Fetchit as the groom who goes with the trotting horse is really at his shuffling worst in this film.
It could have gotten a notch of two higher from me, but for that.
As a foil for the folksy Will Rogers, Charles Middleton as the 'Deacon' is almost perfect. Middleton who gained his greatest fame as Ming the Merciless in Flash Gordon contrasts beautifully with Rogers. He's a pious old skinflint and he takes over the mortgage on Sarah Padden's home. Watch how Rogers gets her out from under without loss to her pride.
The harness race with Middleton and Rogers at the county fair is something to see. The Great Dan Patch never had to have such incentive to win his race as the horse Rogers drives.
Louise Dresser is fine as Mrs. Rogers and Kent Taylor plays an earnest young apprentice banker who Rogers takes a liking to. Sad, but Stepin Fetchit as the groom who goes with the trotting horse is really at his shuffling worst in this film.
It could have gotten a notch of two higher from me, but for that.