Fighting Corruption in Small Places: ‘A Stranger in Town’

A Golden Era film from 1943

Justice is served in "A Stranger in Town," directed by Frank Capra. MovieStillsDB

Should you get involved if you see a problem, or should you just mind your own business? “A Stranger in Town” from 1943 is a vivid example of a man who gets involved with a small town’s problems in spite of himself and ends up inspiring change in a whole community.

This is one of the few starring roles for Frank Morgan, who was a popular MGM character actor. Although best remembered for playing the Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939, Mr. Morgan was a multifaceted performer whose talents lay beyond the comical stammering he often relied on. His role as the titular stranger in this film showcases the dramatic side of his acting.

A Small Town Story

John Josephus Grant (Morgan) is a Supreme Court justice who goes on a duck hunting trip to get away from the pressures in Washington. On the first day of his trip, Grant is stopped by a local sheriff (Irving Bacon), who says that he needs a stamp on his hunting license from the nearby town of Crown City. Disgusted by the officer’s racket of pocketing extra money for the stamps, Grant opts to appear in court instead.