gkeith_1
My take on this movie. 1944 had another horse movie, being National Velvet. We were in the middle of World War II, and I suppose this was another Americana type movie to take people's mind off the big conflict. Jeanne Crain would be seen the next year in another agri-country movie, State Fair. June Haver I had seen in Look for the Silver Lining, being a charming person and not the imp as in this movie. Walter Brennan I enjoyed seeing as a main character, not anyone's sidekick. Tuppy and Mo were just superb. Charlotte Greenwood I would see in Oklahoma, dancing at the train station, and also doing her famous high kicks in a 1930s movie with Eddie Cantor. I enjoyed seeing Ward Bond in a non-Western movie. He was a nice, decent man, as the trainer and also as father of Jeanne Crain. The race track looked like Washington County Fairgrounds, Ohio (a little). I wonder why the actor who played Sparke was not in the military service? I notice he had no mother, and neither did the two girls. Hope he ended up finishing his education. Nothing like an uneducated boob who thinks he knows everything. Maybe he later really got that second belting from his uncle. I'm sure that Cri Cri tried some more of her man-handling on him later, but the movie ended. This was an enjoyable piece of Americana. It was during WWII wartime, and I saw nothing about wartime shortages, gasoline and food rationing, Rosie-riveters working in the factories, but hey, this is a fantasy meant for people to feel good. 10/10
edwagreen
..."When I think about the Moonlight on the Wabash, I'll think about my Indiana home." Remember Jane Froman singing that beautiful song? Well, you can just forget about the tune in this 1944 film. That being said, the musical score playing this song is about the best thing this dud of a film has to offer.Lon McAllister plays the troubled youth who comes to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bolt, played by Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood. Greenwood has one very effective scene in the film when she describes to her nephew why Uncle Bolt is the way he is. It's all about the usual gripe and grudge he has against his former partner, played by Charles Dingle. Remember him 3 years before as Bette Davis's suspicious brother in "The Little Foxes?" Dingle is reduced to having little to do here. The plot in the film is weak and the script is even weaker. Jeanne Crain, in her supposed first mature film, comes off as if she is ready to join Mickey and Judy to create a show in the barn.The film deals with horse racing, something which was close to Walter Brennan's heart when he starred in his supporting Oscar winning performance 6 years before in "Kentucky."The disappointing end with the horse matches the film-one big disappointment. See June Haver, Mrs. Fred MacMurray, as the girl with designs on McCallister as well.
dougdoepke
Hard not to like this picturesque celebration of America's heartland. Sure, it's idealized, filmed as though it stepped off the pages of a glossy Town and Country magazine. And that's along with a super-engaging Crain and McCallister whose two youthful innocents seem worlds away from today. Add Brennan and Greenwood as the tough-love adults and it's a great core cast. The values are strictly family and conservative-- right down to grace before dinner-- but in a non-sanctimonious way.Director Hathaway paces the spare plot nicely so that events never drag. McCallister's got to get surrogate dad Brennan back into the horse business. But to do that, he must win a trotter's race (an Indiana specialty), and in the process develop eyes for the de-glamorized tomboy Crain who's stuck on him. Naturally there are complications, including Haver's glamorous rich girl who proves a temporary distraction. But, surprise, surprise, things do work out in the end.No, they sure don't make 'em like this any more, right down to the Huck Finn swimming hole and Greenwood's stern mother figure looking like she stepped off that famous American Gothic painting. Hollywood's nostalgia factory was hitting on all eight with this warm, non- sappy tale. I guess my only reservation is why they went to Kentucky to film a tribute to Indiana. Oh well, we're probably lucky they didn't cut corners and do it in the studio backlot.
charliet1951
The trivia section states that the racing scenes for this movie were shot in Fremont, Ohio. That may be true for the early scenes, but the final race in which Maudine IV races after going blind were shot in Marion, Ohio at the Marion County Fairgrounds. Although it has changed a lot in recent years, I spent many of my early years playing in the stands at the fairground and even rang the "call to the post" bell that is rung in the movie. My mother told us stories of seeing the stars of the movie at the fairgrounds when they were filming. One of the older guys I used to work with claimed he dated June Haver when they were in town. Even if I didn't believe him, I have no doubt that my mother was telling me the truth.The list of filming locations does credit Marion, as well as several other locations where harness racing was one of the main local pastimesI do enjoy the movie and try to catch it whenever it is on (generally on the FOX movie channel).
AD
