mark.waltz The success of "National Velvet" just a few years before brought a slew of movies about horse racing. If it wasn't fictional stories written by Damon Runyon or starring the Bowery Boys, it was real life hero horses with semi-fictional variations of Seabiscuit or Black Beauty or Dan Patch, the off-spring of the equally famous Joe Patch who became even more of a legend. This drama tells more of the owner's story, here played by Dennis O'Keefe.A scientist by career, he becomes distracted from his promising career when his father bequeaths him the young colt he christens Dan and turns into the biggest champion of his day. This causes issues with his haughty wife (Ruth Warrick) and creates a bond with the sweet Gail Russell. Charlotte Greenwood is wise and loving as O'Keefe's aunt. Warrick had already played several variations of the cold fishwife, and unlike her daytime role of matriarch Phoebe Tyler, this character lacks humor and the heart that Warrick instilled in the usually pompous queen of "All My Children". She has an amusing opening scene where she is being fitted into a dress with open windows at ground level, and keeps getting interrupted by intruders who stop by to tell her that her old beau, O'Keefe, has returned. Rather slow moving and unremarkable, this is rather standard late '40s fare that was better served in the same year's " The Red Pony" which had the advantage of color photography. Russell adds some spirit as the sweet but earthy girl who helps bring O'Keefe out of his shadow as the husband of a character identical to Joan Crawford's Harriet Craig, complete with a racist attitude towards some farmhands she encounters much to her disgust. It is moments like that which really make you think, but I really wanted to see more of the horse. After all, he's the titled character, and he is basically supporting.

bkoganbing What Man O' War was to flat thoroughbred racing Dan Patch was to the sport of harness racing. During the Teddy Roosevelt era in our history this horse was a much a sports hero as Christy Mathewson or John L. Sullivan. He retired undefeated and as the film shows many of his races were simply against the clock as he tried to beat his own pacing speed records which stood for many years. But the film The Great Dan Patch is about his original owners who bred and trained him and the trouble that one of them had with the women in his life. Dennis O'Keefe who was raised on an Indiana farm by father Henry Hull and aunt Charlotte Greenwood had a love of horses, but also a love of science. He patented some chemistry formulas and became wealthy. However two women are in love with O'Keefe. Gail Russell who is the daughter of Dan Patch's original trainer John Hoyt and Ruth Warrick who is the town school teacher.O'Keefe's life would have been real simple had he married Russell who shares his interest in horses. But Warrick marries a man who will allow her to live and circulate in high society. She's got an interesting part, it's almost like O'Keefe married the grandmother of Harriet Craig.If you're expecting a Secretariat like movie with the emphasis on the horse, this will not be the film for you. The Great Dan Patch just keeps on winning harness races as the humans around him make great big mistakes in their personal lives.It's a decent film, but I would like to have seen more of the horse.

Amy Adler David Palmer (Dennis O'Keefe) has graduated from college as a chemist but returns to his father's horse farm in Indiana to sort things out. He has been engaged to a beautiful schoolteacher (Ruth Warrick) and they will probably wed soon. David's father raises harness-racing horses and is very excited about a stallion named Joe Patchen. Training the horse is his longtime employee and his teenage daughter, Cissy (Gail Russell). But, at his first race, Joe P has an unfortunate accident and ruins one his legs. Undeterred, Mr. Palmer Sr. decides to breed the horse and see what happens. Fast forward three years. David is married and far wealthier, due to an invention. His wife couldn't be happier but, David feels something is missing. He begins spending more time with Joe's son, horse Dan Patch, who is even swifter than his sire. Cissy, too, has blossomed into a beautiful, sweet young lady who secretly loves David. With Dan Patch winning race after race, David gets caught up in the excitement, as does the entire country. But, could his personal life with his wife suffer? Does he truly love Cissy, too? This 1949 film highlights the true story of a horse, Dan Patch, who set many records for harness racing and was well-loved throughout the whole USA. Few have heard of him today, unfortunately, but many viewers will love watching his "tale". The cast is quite nice, with O'Keefe a dignified, handsome leading man and Russell unusually pretty. Watch out for Warrick, who went on to fame in the soaps! She makes a darn good "villianess". All of the supporting actors are very fine as well. Naturally, the film's look is the standard of the times but the editing and camera shots are interesting. Costumes, sets, script, and direction are worthy. Of course, there is some obvious political "incorrectness", as the horse farm's workers are African-American and shown in a mostly subservient role. Likely it is historically accurate to their positions but, they are shown here as stereotypically "step-and-fetch-its" without much intelligence. That's too bad but the story is still a good one and worth watching, despite its problems. If you love horses, you should try to find dear Dan P. I got mine at the Dollar Tree store, for a buck, and it brought much more pleasure than it cost.

Bubbi A good family film with a lovely performance from Gail Russell. It is a fine film for race fans. It will entertain the younger set also.