Folksy small-town publisher Will Rogers (as Kenesaw H. Clark) takes in young convict Richard Cromwell (as Lee Austin), who served three years for stealing. When Mr. Rogers tries to suggest Mr. Cromwell was innocent of embezzlement, blustery banker George Barbier (as Joseph Abercrombie) puts Rogers out of business. Meanwhile, Cromwell romances beautiful schoolteacher Rochelle Hudson (as Adele Anderson), but she has also attracted shifty-eyed banker's son Thomas Beck (as Joe Abercrombie Jr.). Rogers, Cromwell, and friendly neighbor Jane Darwell (as Ida Harris) staff a publication called "The Wildcat" to set things in order.
Rogers begins the story by writing the line, "A man at 40 is as old has he feels.. A woman at 40 is almost 29," for one of his newspaper columns. This really doesn't have much to do with the plot, and nobody watching the film would have been fooled into thinking Quigley Publications' #2 "Box Office Star" was forty years old. "Life Begins at 40" is certainly no "Citizen Kane", but Rogers and the cast are appealing. Cromwell is clearly having fun with his co-stars, Ms. Hudson appears very attractive, and Mr. Beck's sneaky looks are great. It's also fun to watch a film where both Slim Summerville and Sterling Holloway lend support.
****** Life Begins at 40 (3/22/35) George Marshall ~ Will Rogers, Richard Cromwell, George Barbier, Rochelle Hudson