STABLEMATES

US, 1938, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Wallace Beery, Mickey Rooney, Arthur Hohl, Margaret Hamilton, Minor Watson.
Directed by Sam Wood.

Stablemates is a pleasant MGM film of 1938, a star vehicle for Wallace Beery doing a variation on his usual role, this time of a vet who has been involved with criminal negligence but who has an expertise with horses and advising people in the racing industry.

Mickey Rooney is a young lad, keen on horses (years before National Velvet), good writer, devoted to a horse that he wants to rescue, forming a bond with the vet, finding a father figure.

The ending is a bit sad, but is on the side of law and order. Directed by Sam Wood who had directed dramas at MGM, some Marx Bros comedies and was to move to more serious films like For Whom the Bell Tolls.

1. A popular racing story of the 1930s? Star vehicle for Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney? At each stage of their career? The direction of Sam Wood and his reputation?

2. MGM production, black and white photography, the racecourse, the stables? Musical score?

3. The title, the touches of irony, the horses, Tom and Mickey?

4. Mickey’s story, at the stables, his age, experience, riding the horse and his love for her, the tests, timing her, his wanting her to run?

5. Tom, at the course, giving his advice, his shrewdness? His avoiding the authorities? Going to the stables, the encounter with Mickey, bunking down? His comment on the horse and what was wrong?

6. The revelation that he was a vet, his shady past, the manslaughter accident, his evading the police?

7. The bond with Mickey, helping with the horse, moving away from the stables, the encounter with Beulah Flanders, her putting them up, her several marriages, flirting with Tom, his being wary, their leaving?

8. The scenes between Tom and Mickey, the mutual liking, Tom and his father figure role?

9. Leaving, the possibilities for the race, the arrival of the police, Mickey and his work with the horse?

10. Tom, caught by the police, the discussions, the plea? His doing the honourable thing? And the bond with Mickey? The future?