''Too Busy to Work'' is a 1932 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

John G. Blystone John G. Blystone (December 2, 1892 – August 6, 1938) was an American film director. He directed 100 films between 1915 and 1938. He was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin and died in Los Angeles, California from a myocardial infarction, heart at ...

, written by Barry Conners and Philip Klein, and starring

Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...

Marian Nixon Marian Nixon (born Marja Nissinen; October 20, 1904 – February 13, 1983) was an American film actress. Sometimes credited as Marion Nixon, she appeared in more than 70 films. Career Born in Superior, Wisconsin, in 1904, to parents of Finnish d ...

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility and successfully transform ...

, Frederick Burton, Charles Middleton and

Louise Beavers Louise Beavers (March 8, 1900 – October 26, 1962) was an American film and television actress who appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows from the 1920s to 1960. She played a prominent role in advancing the lives of black Am ...

. It was released on December 2, 1932, by

Fox Film Corporation The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1914 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox (producer), William Fox. It was the corporate successor to ...

Plot

Fifteen years after he returned from World War One, Jubilo decides to look up the man who ran away with his wife and toddler daughter while he was at war. Having become a hobo, he takes a rather adventurous on-foot route to the wealthy home of Judge Hardy, and sees his little daughter has grown up to be quite the beauty and is scheduled to marry the Judge's birth son, Dan Hardy. Jubilo begs a meal from the cook, Mammy, and his easy-going nature helps him talk his way into a hired hand position. He cannot bear to let his daughter out of his sight so soon. Jubilo conducts a running feud with Axel, the other hired hand; and manages to "Tom Sawyer" Axel into doing most of his work for him. Jubilo keeps a bad family secret---while waiting for two friends to come back to his car one night, the Judge's son saw them commit an armed robbery where a watchman was killed and one of the friends badly wounded. They dropped the friend off at a hospital, and Dan is terrified that things might be traced back to him. Jubilo's desire for revenge is known to the Judge from guarded conversations. But to speak up would ruin his daughter's life as well. The Judge finally gives Jubilo a loaded gun and tells him he is free to do what he wishes with it. The local sheriff realizes that Jubilo was at the robbery scene, and brings him in for questioning. Brought to the bedside of the wounded robber, Jubilo whispers to him that it would be nice if he confessed Dan's innocence before he died. The robber eventually does this. But while Dan is alone in the house, the third robber breaks in and orders Dan to open the safe at gunpoint. Jubilo returns and kills the man in a gun battle with the Judge's gun. It is ruled self defense, and Dan's name is cleared. Jubilo decides not to tell Rose he is her father, and returns to his wandering ways---although he hints he might stay in walking distance so he can come back for the wedding.

Cast

as Jubilo *

as Rose *

as Dan Hardy * Frederick Burton as Judge Hardy * Charles Middleton as Chief of Police *

as Mammy * Constantine Romanoff as Axel The Farmhand (uncredited) * Douglas Cosgrove as Sheriff (uncredited) *Howard Lally as "Red", wounded bandit (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1932 films Fox Film films American drama films 1932 drama films Films directed by John G. Blystone American black-and-white films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-drama-film-stub