The Fighting Parson (1930)

Harry is mistaken for "The Fighting Parson" in a tough western town.

Directors:

Fred Guiol (as Fred L. Guiol), Charley Rogers (as Charles Rogers)

Writer:

H.M. Walker (story editor)

Stars:

Harry Langdon, Thelma Todd, Judith Barrett

Cast

Cast overview:
Harry Langdon	...	The Banjo Player
Thelma Todd	...	The Blonde Dance Hall Girl
Judith Barrett	...	The Brunette Dance Hall Girl (as Nancy Dover)
Eddie Dunn	...	The Piano Player

Storyline

The guys at the saloon in a wild west town are unhappy to hear that a moral crusader, known as the Fighting Parson, is headed their way. We meet the parson and his wife aboard a stagecoach; their fellow passenger is an itinerant banjo player. After the stage is held up, only the banjo player makes it to town, where he's mistaken for the Fighting Parson. A gal forced into white slavery at the saloon asks him for help, and he has to duke it out with the dance hall girl's tormentor. Does this small man stand a chance?

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Plot Keywords:

parson | banjo player | banjo | saloon | stagecoach | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 February 1930 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

User Reviews

Fighting the Good Fight

Harry is a traveling hat salesman out west and he is mistaken for the Fighting Parson, who has been going around, punching out bandits and running revival meetings. So when he shows up in town and proceeds to charm the sinners by singing 'Frankie and Johnny' instead of 'Rock of Ages' he must fight Leo Wills for control of the town.

For some reason, Harry's Roach shorts are given short shrift in film history, just another rock on his career's pratfall. But looking at the actual work, I see an absolutely delightful short as Harry moves his naif into the sound era and begins to alter him for the new venue. A veteran of the stage, he sings, he plays the piano and he performs a fine eccentric dance. Nor are the solid comedy technicians at Roach averse to helping him come up with one of his better surrealistic gags for the final big fight scene.

For some reason, Thelma Todd appears only in a few crowd shots. This looks like it was cut down from three reels, or perhaps they simply built up the comedy boxing match and had to cut out her part.