Our Leading Citizen

Our Leading Citizen

89 mins | Drama, Comedy | Aug. 23, 1939

Lem Schofield, a lawyer in a one-time small-town turned industrialized big city, runs his firm on examples set by Abraham Lincoln and is a friend to the poor. Clay Clinton, his late partner's son joins the firm but is anxious for fast success and considers Schofield's old-fashioned principles antiquated. Being in love with Schofield's daughter and impatient for success he moves to offices supplied by the city's most powerful industrialist, J.T. Tapley, who has plans to use Clay's good family lineage as a stepping stone to political power. The unscrupulous Tapley precipitates a strike in his factory mill which causes a rupture between the former partners. Schofield sets out to bring Tapley and his political henchmen to justice.

Our Leading Citizen

89 mins | Drama, Comedy | Aug. 23, 1939

Our Leading Citizen
Lem Schofield, a lawyer in a one-time small-town turned industrialized big city, runs his firm on examples set by Abraham Lincoln and is a friend to the poor. Clay Clinton, his late partner's son joins the firm but is anxious for fast success and considers Schofield's old-fashioned principles antiquated. Being in love with Schofield's daughter and impatient for success he moves to offices supplied by the city's most powerful industrialist, J.T. Tapley, who has plans to use Clay's good family lineage as a stepping stone to political power. The unscrupulous Tapley precipitates a strike in his factory mill which causes a rupture between the former partners. Schofield sets out to bring Tapley and his political henchmen to justice.
Producers Paramount
Original title Our Leading Citizen
Directors Russell Mathews, Alfred Santell
Writers Irvin S. Cobb, Jack Moffitt

Cast

Bob Burns

as Lem Schofield

Susan Hayward

as Judith Schofield

Joseph Allen

as Clay Clinton

Elizabeth Patterson

as Aunt Tillie

Charles Bickford

as Shep Muir

Gene Lockhart

as J.T. Tapley

Kathleen Lockhart

as Mrs. Barker

Otto Hoffman

as Mr. Stoney

Clarence Kolb

as Jim Hanna

Paul Guilfoyle

as Jerry Peters

Fay Helm

as Tonia

Hattie Noel

as Druscilla

Kathryn Sheldon

as Miss Swan

Monte Blue

as Frank

Jim Kelso

as Chief of Police

Harry C. Bradley

as Director

Frances Morris

as Maid

Thomas Louden

as Frederick the Butler

Olaf Hytten

as Charles, the Butler

Phil Dunham

as Janitor

Gus Glassmire

as Doctor

Max Wagner

as Workman

Arthur Arlington

as Delegate

Heinie Conklin

as Porter

Nell Craig

as Bridge Player

Thomas A. Curran

as Member

Sidney D'Albrook

as Workman

Helen Dickson

as Member

Florence Dudley

as Phone Operator

Galan Galt

as Workman

Ethyl May Halls

as Member

Russell Hicks

as Chairman

Paul Kruger

as Workman

Peggy Leon

as Bridge Player

George Magrill

as Workman

Wally Maher

as Convention Clerk

Gertrude Messinger

as Phone Operator

Frank O'Connor

as Member

Jack Richardson

as Member

Cyril Ring

as Delegate

Ruth Robinson

as Mrs. Hanna

Syd Saylor

as Sam

C.L. Sherwood

as Porter

Harry Smiley

as Member

Harry Stafford

as Member

Larry Steers

as Delegate

Hayden Stevenson

as Member

Harry Tenbrook

as Workman

Jane Webb

as Phone Operator

Lillian West

as Bridge Player