Compared with the previous Capra/Riskin films: AMERICAN MADNESS, MIRACLE WOMAN, LADY FOR A DAY and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, this one's a bit flat. The emotional umph doesn't quite develop.
Like Gable, William Powell and Fairbanks Jr., Warner Baxter is one of those instantly likeable characters. Aided by Capra's direction and Riskin's script, you just can't help rooting for 'the little fella' straight from the start and that keeps you engaged. And as you find with all well-made films, which this is, the rest of the cast are all well-rounded believable people too. The decent, un-rushed running time is also a plus as it allows you to get to know everyone which is done very cleverly - it's undeniably perfectly put together. If you're like me and have an irrational and utterly groundless dislike of Myrna Loy, you'll also find that even she is fairly engaging as well. Just a shame about the story!
A 1930s horse racing story just doesn't have the draw it would have done once upon a time. Unless you have very specialist interests, the story and the passion that Dan has for his vocation doesn't quite resonate with a modern audience. These days we don't associate race-horse owners with 'the little fella' with just a few pennies in his pocket struggling against the establishment. Nevertheless it's pleasant enough and entertaining and if you weren't to compare it to the previous and subsequent Capra/Riskin productions you'd think this was a pretty good picture. But you do compare it and it's definitely below par.
Like Gable, William Powell and Fairbanks Jr., Warner Baxter is one of those instantly likeable characters. Aided by Capra's direction and Riskin's script, you just can't help rooting for 'the little fella' straight from the start and that keeps you engaged. And as you find with all well-made films, which this is, the rest of the cast are all well-rounded believable people too. The decent, un-rushed running time is also a plus as it allows you to get to know everyone which is done very cleverly - it's undeniably perfectly put together. If you're like me and have an irrational and utterly groundless dislike of Myrna Loy, you'll also find that even she is fairly engaging as well. Just a shame about the story!
A 1930s horse racing story just doesn't have the draw it would have done once upon a time. Unless you have very specialist interests, the story and the passion that Dan has for his vocation doesn't quite resonate with a modern audience. These days we don't associate race-horse owners with 'the little fella' with just a few pennies in his pocket struggling against the establishment. Nevertheless it's pleasant enough and entertaining and if you weren't to compare it to the previous and subsequent Capra/Riskin productions you'd think this was a pretty good picture. But you do compare it and it's definitely below par.