SPORTING BLOOD

US, 1940, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Young, Maureen O' Sullivan, Lewis Stone, William Gargan, Lynne Carver, Clarence Muse, Lloyd Corrigan, Russell Hicks.
Directed by S. Sylvan Simon.

Sporting Blood is a star vehicle for Robert Young and for Maureen O’ Sullivan, who had appeared as Jane in the Tarzan films with Johnny Weissmuller. Lewis Stone was appearing as Judge Hardy in the series of the time. William Gargan offers good support as Robert Young’s friend.

This is a racing film, clips of races, horse training, criminal activity on the courses. However, the film has some complicated moral issues, Robert Young is the son of a father who had run off with the wife of a prominent landowner. He decides to return home, to his dilapidated mansion, and raise a loan to breed horses. The landowner, played by Lewis Stone, eventually decides to give him the money with the mansion as collateral. His two daughters are interested in Young, but it is the hostile daughter, Maureen O’ Sullivan, who does fall in love and raises complications with her father.

The film is also interesting in terms of the character played by Clarence Muse, the black domestic servant who identifies with his master and even sets fire to Young’s stables, thinking that this is what the master wants.

A film of its time, but interesting enough if one comes across it.

1. Racing story, breeding, training, the races, betting?

2. MGM 1940, the cast, black and white photography, the score?

3. The status of racing by 1940, the visuals, the horses, the owners, the trainers, the jockeys? Criminal elements?

4. Myles and Duffy, at the races, owning the horses, the threats from the criminals, the accident during the race, Myles punching out his enemy? The decision to return to Virginia?

5. The history in Virginia, Myles’ father, running off with Lockwood’s wife? Their deaths in the accident? The hostility of the town towards Myles?

6. The mansion, in ruins, Myles and Duffy settling in? The horses, the breeding, the care?

7. The request for the loan, the bank refusing, the influence of Lockwood? Lockwood, meeting Linda and Joan, hostility? Lockwood and his decision to extend the loan, the mansion as collateral?

8. Joan, flirting, her boyfriend, relationship with her father, with Linda, the clashes, reconciliation, Myles proposal, whether to marry him or not, her leaving?

9. Duffy, the good friend, good advice, training the horses, care, exasperation with Myles?

10. The character of Jeff, the domestic servant, in the tradition of the mansion slave, the bond with the master, and Jeff setting fire to the staples thinking that this was what Lockwood would want?

11. Linda, the hostile meeting, the visit, her attraction, the fire and her coming to help? The birth, the death of the cold and letting Sweetheart live, difficulties and Linda’s assistance?

12. Myles, his attitudes, wanting to win, the lost horses in the fire? Linda, her horse, the training, the carriage and the horse pulling it, success?

13. The sudden marriage, the motivations, Linda’s love, having to leave, with her father? Myles, the clashes with Duffy, coming to his senses?

14. The race, everyone cheering on, the horse winning? And reconciliation?