bkoganbing
I once wrote to Roy Rogers, Jr. about his dad's credits in the Weaver Family films at Republic and what he told me was that like all the other studio bosses Herbert J. Yates believed in keeping his contract players working. Even though by 1941 Roy Rogers was a full fledged film star he still got cast in support of the Weaver Family in Arkansas Judge. As befit his star status though he was billed first in the supporting cast.The Weaver Family was just that three performers related to each other named Weaver who did essentially hillbilly music and were stars of the Grand Old Opry at the time. They did a few films for Republic at the time which were popular in what would become the red states. Leon Weaver plays a town judge who likes to cut back occasionally and do some jamming with the family.His part was something that other Rogers named Will could have done had he lived. Weaver has worked hard to keep his valley both peaceful and harmonious. But war clouds descend when Eily Mahlon accuses poor widow Spring Byington of the theft of $50.00 she had hidden in her flour barrel. She has no proof mind you, but a weak circumstantial case.Weaver is all for living and let living, but town banker Frank M. Thomas has his own reasons for wanting the blame to fall on Byington. It all gets quite ugly before the truth is learned.As for Roy he is caught between two women, Pauline Moore and Veda Ann Borg. He gets to be in courtroom scene as a lawyer defending Leon Weaver from a slander suit brought by Thomas. It's every actor's dream and he fulfilled it. He also has one song to sing Peaceful Valley as most of the musical numbers were for the Weaver Family. Roy doesn't have that many scenes, but he makes what he has count.Arkansas Judge coming from Republic Pictures doesn't have the touches and production values from a major studio. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised in that this film was a powerful indictment against gossip and slander. And Spring Byington gets the accolades for best performance. She is quite touching as the poor, put upon widow whom the town of Peaceful Valley turns against and makes war on.As for Roy Rogers this is a film he should be known better for.
Leslie Howard Adams
Adapted from Irving Stone's novel "False Witness." Peaceful Valley town-founder, Judge Abner Weaver (Leon Weaver) is distressed when the townspeople begin gossiping and "bearing false witness'" against Mary Shoemaker (Spring Byington), the community handy-woman, who is charged with having stolen fifty dollars from Widow Smithers (Eily Malhon), and he and his wife Elviry (June Weaver)and brother Cicero (Frank Weaver)stoutly defend Mary.The theft becomes a matter of community interest when a rumor is circulated that Hettie Huston (Veda Ann Borg), daughter of the local banker, August Houston (Frank M. Thomas), has stolen the money in order to buy an expensive evening gown with which to dazzle Tom Martel (Roy Rogers), a young lawyer whose legal education was sponsored by Judge Weaver, whose daughter Margaret (Pauline Moore) is also in love with Tom, and the young lawyer is torn between the sophisticated attractions of Hettie and the simple charm of Margaret.In order to save his daughter's reputation, August Houston is eager to have Mary Shoemaker's guilt established and to induce her to quietly leave town. Judge Weaver (not on the bench)defends her so heatedly that Huston institutes a slander-suit against his old friend, charging him with having damaged Hettie's reputation. Ordinarly, a hard thing to do with characters played by Veda Ann Borg.Margaret feels that inasmuch as her father has financed Tom's legal education, it is his duty to defend her father. But Tom is smitten with Hettie and proposes to her, and refuses to side against her in the trial.As the trial proceeds, it becomes apparent that all the witnesses are testifying against Judge Weaver because Huston and his bank hold notes and mortgages on their homes and businesses. Tom can stand it no longer and determines to defend the Judge, even though it may mean breaking his engagement to Hettie, no matter how smitten he may be. When it is suggested that Judge Weaver started the rumor against Hettie because his daughter was in love with Tom and jealous of Hettie, Tom puts Margaret on the stand and asks her to refute the statement. Margaret cannot swear, under oath, that she doesn't love Tom; and, as a result of her admission of love, the case is lost. But Huston magnanimously declines to accept from Judge Weaver the judgement the court has awarded him, on condition that Mary Shoemaker be sent out of town. Judge Weaver, knowing that Mary was not the one who stole the money, declines the offer.Meanwhile, a group of Republic's usual rabble-roused townspeople decides to run Mary out of town, whether she wants to go or not. When she doesn't respond to the clamor at her door , they decide she has already left and, just to show her how they feel about her stealing fifty bucks from Widow Smithers, they set fire to her house.BUT, Mary is inside the house.1. Can Tom and his unnamed horse save her? 2. Will Hettie confess? 3. Will Tom decide that Margaret might be a better choice than Hettie? 4.If so, will the citizens of Peaceful Valley mend their hen-house ways and resume their peaceful, happy lives? Yes (I)...Yes(2)...Yes (3)...and probably not (4) to the last question unless gossipy Minerva Urecal moves out of town.
