Lightnin' (1925 film)

Lightnin' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by John Ford. The film is based on the play Lightnin' by Winchell Smith and Frank Bacon, which was a successful Broadway production. It stars Will Rogers in the title role as "Lightnin'" Bill Jones, a lovable, lazy, and perpetually fibbing hotel owner on the California-Nevada border.

The story revolves around attempts to acquire the land on which Lightnin's Calivada Hotel sits, due to its strategic location. A group of scheming businessmen try to trick Lightnin' and his wife, Mother Jones (played by Madge Bellamy), out of their property. Lightnin', while seemingly simple-minded, is ultimately wiser than he appears and thwarts their plans, saving his home and family.

The film is notable for showcasing Will Rogers' folksy humor and charm, and it was a box office success. It is considered a significant example of Ford's early work and a representative film of the silent era's comedic sensibilities. A previous film adaptation of the play, also titled Lightnin', was released in 1920 starring Frank Bacon.