HOME IN INDIANA

US, 1944, 103 minutes, Colour.
Jeanne Crain, June Haver, Lon Mc Callister, Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood, Ward Bond. Charles Dingle, Willie Best.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.

Home In Indiana is one of those pleasant Americana films - a young boy with difficulties finding that he has a way with horses, trains them and comes to victory in a race. This was the period of National Velvet, but also many American set stories like Kentucky and The Green Grass of Wyoming. This film was of interested as directed by Henry Hathaway, a director of versatility who made many action features in the '40s and was soon to move to semi-documentary social studies. He had action dramas and westerns in the '50s and '60s. The film also introduced three vivacious young stars - Jeanne Crain, June Haver and Lon Mc Callister. The story has all the ingredients of American sentiment and homespun humour with the vigour of the race track. Walter Brennan, Charlotte Greenwood and War Bond contribute their particular styles for these themes. Colourful, pleasant - and romantically out of date in more troubled decades.

1. An entertaining film? For American audiences. for world-wide audiences? Entertaining, pleasant?

2. The traditions of the American family film with the emphasis on horses and racing and training? The young boy, romantic attachments, his way with animals., training, difficulties, the final race and happiness? How well did this film use the conventions? Better than average?

3. Colour photography, the Indiana backgrounds, the racing and training sequences? The musical score - with the theme of Home In Indiana?

4. The plot reflecting the '30s and '40s? The presuppositions about wholesome American life? The young boy with difficulties and his success? The tomboy girl and her discovering her femininity and romance? The wealthy girl with education,, glamour, and not being the heroine? The old man with difficulties taking to drink and making a comeback? The kind-hearted wife? The clashes of the wealthy with the trainers? How well were these ingredients put together for drama, entertainment? How real, contrived?

5. Sparky as an attractive young hero? His origins,, being bequeathed to Thunder and his wife, attempting to run away, the encounter with the horses? His working with the training instead of going to school? His experiment in breeding a thoroughbred? The friendship with Char? Her father? The attachment to Cri-Cri? The jealousy of Gordon? His working with the negroes for the signing of the documents, training the horse? The lyrical sequences - clashes with Char, riding, swimming, romantic attachments? The Christmas presents sequence etc.? The beating by Thunder and the reconciliation? The homespun wisdom of his aunt? The passing of the years? The attachment to Cri-Cri? The important meting,, the races and the antagonism of the other drivers? The final victory? The dance and his reaction to Char? The happy ending? The American type hero?

6. Char as vigorous young heroine - her capacity for driving, overhearing the plans, getting the money, feeling put out at Sparky's attention to her, the dance, the happy ending? Discovering her femininity and womanhood? The contrast with CriCri? and her wealth, glamour? The attachment to Gordon? Her attaching herself to Sparky when he won? Typical American girls?

7. Thunder and his wife - the difficulties.. bringing up Sparky? The training of the horse? Thunder's making a comeback in the racing fraternity? Building a future?

8. The antagonisms of the past - Bruce and his training, the owner and his wealth? Their final clash?

9. The special features of this world: the race tournaments, the dances, swimming, Christmas presents etc.?

10. An easy world of innocence. quick right and wrong, romance, achievement? The heritage of the American dream?