Harry is mistaken for "The Fighting Parson" in a tough western town.Harry is mistaken for "The Fighting Parson" in a tough western town.Harry is mistaken for "The Fighting Parson" in a tough western town.
Photos
Judith Barrett
- The Brunette Dance Hall Girl
- (as Nancy Dover)
Clara Guiol
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
Charlie Hall
- The Waiter
- (uncredited)
Jack Kenny
- Townsman
- (uncredited)
Bob Kortman
- Bandit
- (uncredited)
Gus Leonard
- Stagecoach Passenger
- (uncredited)
Dorothy Vernon
- Stagecoach Passenger
- (uncredited)
Leo Willis
- The Banjo Player's Opponent
- (uncredited)
Joy Winthrop
- Stagecoach Passenger
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Featured review
Saved By The Belle
The marriage of styles between Harry Langdon and the Hal Roach studio would seem, on the surface of it, to be a perfect wedding but the reality was that it was a bumpy affair. However, THE FIGHTING PARSON turned out to be a memorable union.
Our first appearance of Harry is inside a stagecoach entertaining the passengers with a charming ditty while strumming a banjo. The great comedians all seemed to had been musically proficient. Groucho played guitar to keep up with his brothers and Keaton played a mean ukulele. When Harry finishes his tune he immediately holds out his hand looking for tips. Since he is wedged between two disinterested people his hand moves from side to side to side looking for a response. It's a hilarious moment. This short plays up the description that only the Gods and fate can save this clown. Through a series of accidents that Harry has no control over he soon has an entire western town believing that he is the notorious fighting Parson. There is not a more implausible sight than a town of western toughs cowering while pasty-faced Harry is busy playing by blowing foam off of his beer mug. Since he has the run of the town he decides to entertain them all by once again taking out his banjo and goes into a spirited rendition of "Frankie and Johnnie". This is followed by an impromptu tap dance and it comes off just as charming as the off-the-cuff musical moments that would appear in the shorts of Charley Chase and Stan & Ollie.
Eventually Harry must face off against the town's bad guy and since this is a western setting we naturally assume guns will be involved. And for that very reason the boys settle their differences with a boxing match. The farcical tones of this short is ratcheted up another notch as Harry acquires two long poles for arms with boxing gloves attached to the ends. This abstract image is matched with Langdon's creative use of his new arms as he pokes, jabs, throws wheel barrel punches and even skips rope with them. It all ends up with this being one of the most entertaining of the Langdon-Roach shorts.
Our first appearance of Harry is inside a stagecoach entertaining the passengers with a charming ditty while strumming a banjo. The great comedians all seemed to had been musically proficient. Groucho played guitar to keep up with his brothers and Keaton played a mean ukulele. When Harry finishes his tune he immediately holds out his hand looking for tips. Since he is wedged between two disinterested people his hand moves from side to side to side looking for a response. It's a hilarious moment. This short plays up the description that only the Gods and fate can save this clown. Through a series of accidents that Harry has no control over he soon has an entire western town believing that he is the notorious fighting Parson. There is not a more implausible sight than a town of western toughs cowering while pasty-faced Harry is busy playing by blowing foam off of his beer mug. Since he has the run of the town he decides to entertain them all by once again taking out his banjo and goes into a spirited rendition of "Frankie and Johnnie". This is followed by an impromptu tap dance and it comes off just as charming as the off-the-cuff musical moments that would appear in the shorts of Charley Chase and Stan & Ollie.
Eventually Harry must face off against the town's bad guy and since this is a western setting we naturally assume guns will be involved. And for that very reason the boys settle their differences with a boxing match. The farcical tones of this short is ratcheted up another notch as Harry acquires two long poles for arms with boxing gloves attached to the ends. This abstract image is matched with Langdon's creative use of his new arms as he pokes, jabs, throws wheel barrel punches and even skips rope with them. It all ends up with this being one of the most entertaining of the Langdon-Roach shorts.
helpful•31
- lowbrowstudios
- Jan 19, 2011
Details
- Runtime20 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.20 : 1
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