A legal drama from 1943, A STRANGER IN TOWN is a low budget potboiler that offers a starring role for old-timer Frank Morgan, best known for playing the title role in THE WIZARD OF OZ. Here, he plays a genial judge who pays a visit to a youthful and crusading politician who has just become mayor and is busy battling corruption in his town.The twist is that Morgan's real identity is a secret, allowing him to observe proceedings from a place of safety. It's not a bad plot per se, but too much of the running time gets bogged down in a lengthy romance between the young characters, and Morgan doesn't have a great deal to do. It's a pity, as in the right hands this could have been something special.

A Stranger in Town is a rather inconsequential film released in 1943. It is listed as a romance/drama, but it is more comedy than anything else, because the story is written very lightly.When I saw the title, I immediately wondered which version of small-town America would be presented--the myth of small town generosity that embraces all strangers as if they were friends, or the sometime reality that in small towns, people are suspicious of strangers and their motives, regarding them as outsiders (and sometimes barbarians). We don't have to wait long to find out.Supreme Court justice Joe Grant (played by Frank Morgan) visits the small town of Crown Port to get away from the city and hunt ducks. He immediately encounters the local game warden who invokes a local law and tries to extract a few bucks out of him. Joe goes to court to contest the fine and gets a less than encouraging result. While in town, he meets Bill Adams (Richard Carlson), a local attorney who is miffed enough about the entrenched, corrupt town mayor, and his cronies, to run for election against the mayor. But he feels he is fighting a losing battle, so his effort is half-hearted. Joe becomes a mentor to the young attorney and eventually lights a fire under his nominal campaign. Joe brings his secretary, Lucy Gilbert (Jean Rogers), to town where she also becomes involved in the proceedings.Both sides--the political machine of the incumbent and Bill's allies--use (some arcane) laws to battle. They thrust and parry until there is fighting in the streets.This is another film about the rights of men, and how they should hold government responsible in the name of justice. But if one watches carefully, the film demonstrates the unfortunate truth that the law is not about justice. Real knowledge of law is only available to attorneys. The common man must avail himself of their services, knowing that laws are created by (mostly lawyer) politicians. We all know how highly politicians are held in the public's esteem.Though this film was shooting for a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington-type rallying of the human spirit in the name of the "little man", it falls short. In the end, this film wraps up very neatly, as expected. I would watch the film, but not expect more than a cute little story with likable characters.

Frank Morgan discards his "confused middle-aged guy" persona to star in this moralistic, yet fine early 1940s film. Morgan plays the role of John Josephus Grant, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Grant is overworked, and takes a hunting trip to Crownport, a typical small town. Here he quickly becomes embroiled in corrupt local politics, headed by a very crooked and despicable local judge (Porter Hall). He teams up with his secretary (Jean Rogers) and a local mayoral candidate (Richard Carlson) to overcome the bad guys and clean up the town. Of course, there's an obligatory love story, involving the characters of Rogers and Carlson.Morgan takes full advantage of this rare top-billed role and gives a warm and believable performance. Rogers is also in top form, while Carlson is just average in an average role. Morgan's rousing speech to the local townsfolk about American government may seem a little overripe today, but is perfect in the context of a WWII-era movie. It's also fun to watch the town's corrupt bosses squirm when they find out Morgan's true identity. This film's a reflection of a long-ago time when people generally trusted our political institutions.

"A Stranger in Town" turns out to be a pleasant surprise. I originally viewed it to see Frank (The Wizard of Oz) Morgan in a starring role, and did not have any grand expectations. But it turned out to be a droll little film, quite entertaining.The whole plot is predicated on the general anonymity of Supreme Court justices. Does anyone know what they look like? Can anyone even name all 9? Along the way, we get a look and some commentary on small town American life in the 1940s, as well as a Capra-esque speech by Morgan near the end of the film.Their is also some requisite romantic interest thrown in, which is quite incidental and was probably just added to stretch out the running time. The film also has Porter Hall, who played the heel in "Miracle on 34th St." and the heel in "The Thin Man", playing, you guessed it, a heel.Overall, a very pleasant way to spend 70 minutes. Give it a view when you get the chance.