''Chicken Wagon Family'' is a

1939 This year also marks the start of the Second World War, the largest and deadliest conflict in human history. Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 ** Third Reich *** Jews are forbidden to ...

American comedy, directed by

Herbert I. Leeds Herbert I. Leeds (September 13, 1900 – May 15, 1954) was an American film director. Biography Herbert Irving Levy was born on September 13, 1900, to Abraham T. Levy and had a sister, Marjorie Levy Rudman. He married Evelyn C. and had Lydia as t ...

and based on the 1925 novel, ''The Chicken-Wagon Family,'' by

Barry Benefield Barry Benefield (full name John Barry Benefield ) (May 12, 1877 in Jefferson, Texas – September 22, 1971 in Jefferson, Texas) was an American writer, some of whose books were adapted for the cinema. His being born and spending much of his life i ...

. It stars Leo Carrillo in the role originally intended for

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 ...

before his death.

Plot

Jean Paul Batiste Fippany (Leo Carrillo) and his family live a vagabond lifestyle with no home but their traveling wagon. Cecile Fippany (Majorie Weaver), Jean Paul's wife, has been secretly saving money to move into a home. When Jean Paul finds the money, his gambling addiction takes over and he loses the entire savings. Youngest daughter Addie (Jane Withers) catches the attention of policeman Matt Hibbard (Kane Richmond) when she leaves her coat in exchange for coffee and doughnuts. Taking pity on the homeless family, Hibbard shelters them in an abandoned fire station. Addie and her father begin selling bathtubs for a big profit, which earns them enough money to purchase the fire station building.

Cast

Leo Carrillo Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo (; August 6, 1880 – September 10, 1961), known professionally as Leo Carrillo, was an American actor, vaudevillian, political cartoonist, and conservationist. He was best known for playing Pancho in the television ...

– Jean Paul Batiste Fippany *

Jane Withers Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 – August 7, 2021) was an American actress and children's radio show host. She became one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s, with her films ranking in the top ten list for ...

– Addie Fippany *

Marjorie Weaver Marjorie Weaver (March 2, 1913 – October 1, 1994) was an American film actress of the 1930s through the early 1950s. Early life, entrance into acting Weaver was born in Crossville, Tennessee to John Thomas Weaver and his wife, Ellen (née Mar ...

– Cecile Fippany *

Spring Byington Spring Dell Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of ''December Bride''. She was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who appeared in ...

– Josephine Fippany *

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography He was born in Virginia City, Nevada on September 22, 1886. Cavanaugh attended the University of California. He worked i ...

– Henri Fippany *

Kane Richmond Kane Richmond (born Frederick William Bowditch, December 23, 1906 – March 22, 1973) was an American film actor of the 1930s and 1940s, mostly appearing in cliffhangers and serials. He is best known today for his portrayal of the character La ...

– Matt Hibbard *

Adrian Morris Adrian Grant Morris (18 May 1929 – 6 December 2004) was an England, English painter. Early life Morris was born in London, England. He spent his childhood in rural Somerset before the family moved to the United States, where he attended the ...

– Tough Guy

References

External links

* * * * 1939 films American black-and-white films American comedy films 20th Century Fox films 1939 comedy films Films scored by Samuel Kaylin Films based on American novels Films directed by Herbert I. Leeds 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub