Beloved humorist and political commentator Will Rogers stars as down-to-earth Solomon like Judge Priest who presides over his post Civil War Kentucky courtroom with compassion and humor. His pride is wounded when a political rival forces him to remove himself from the bench in a controversial assault case. Nevertheless, "private citizen" Priest will take desperate measures to see that justice is served.
Will Rogers appeared in over 70 movies in addition to his success as a political commentator in his syndicated column. He was enormously popular at the time of his death in 1935 in a tragic plane crash. Legendary director John Ford shows his ability to powerfully portray basic American decency and honesty in the face of adversity in this early sound effort. Ford would go on to win a record four Best Director Oscars for The Informer (1935), The Grapes Of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941) and The Quiet Man (1952).