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Inspired by the long-running (1937-1949) radio series of the same name, Scattergood Baines came to the screen in 1941, with Guy Kibbee replacing the radio version's Jess Pugh in the title role. In his first movie outing, storekeeper Scattergood Baines, resident philosopher of the town of Coldriver, tries to prevent a group of shifty financiers from taking control of a local railroad line which he manages. For a while, Baines loses the confidence and support of his friends and neighbors, but in the end he prevails as usual. Carried over from the radio series is Francis "Dink" Trout as eccentric train conductor Pliny Pickett. Like its radio role model, Scattergood Baines is based on characters created by Clarence Buddington Kelland.