Will Rogers is a World War I veteran who went off to fight and came back to discover that his wife had divorced him, took his daughter away, and married a wealthy judge. This judge (ironically named Judge Hardy, no relation to Andy's pop in that MGM series) has raised her (Marian Nixon) even though she knows she's adopted, and has approved her engagement to his own son, her step-brother (Dick Powell). Along comes Will ready to spill the beans. He gets involved with their lives and eventually confronts the Judge. Will he turn their lives upside down? Will he accept the Judge's offer to get justified revenge? Or will he simply pack up and move away not to disturb everybody's lives? It's interesting to see Will Rogers basically playing Stella Dallas. Rogers is presented as a lazy lout, more interested in finding ways for others to do the chores and eat rather than work. But even being lazy, you can't help but like this guy. He's wiser than most of the hard working people I know, has an uncanny way of bringing sunshine into everybody's life, and does what he can to make it through life honestly while not earning a dime of his own. No wonder Rogers was so popular in films. No matter how creaky they seem, he makes them fun to watch. Add on Louise Beavers as the housekeeper and you've got a sweet drama to dab a handkerchief on your eyes with.
Review of Too Busy to Work
Too Busy to Work
(1932)
Heartwarming soaper with Will Rogers at his best.
3 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers