Lightnin'

Fun little film from Ford. It works best as a comedy when Ford regular J. Farrell MacDonald is on screen, using his expressive face to elicit laughter. However, along with frequent collaborator Joseph August, Ford presents a number of expressive shots throughout the film that underline the emotional impact of the film. Ford spreads these out nicely, and the film builds in its expressiveness throughout, with the final courtroom sequence a real high point.

Evidence of those folksy comedies John Ford would do in the 1930s with Will Rogers, except here it's old Jay Hunt that has the drunken old goat at the heart of the story. It's his movie, along with welcome support from Edythe Chapman, J. Farrell MacDonald & Otis Harlan. Felt the comedy was a little off. Too slow to match the comic timing. But if one is used to those Ford comedies of the 30s one get the pace he's aiming for. Lightnin' is a charming comedy if one has the patience for it.