THOROUGHBRED
Australia, 1936, 89 minutes, Black and white.
Helen Twelvetrees, Frank Leighton, John Longden.
Directed by Ken G. Hall.
Thoroughbred was an ambitious Cinesound entertainment of the mid-'30s. Ken Hall had, by 1935, made a mark in producing popular entertainment well received in Australia. He used Hollywood models for his productions and promotion. For this film he imported silent star Helen Twelvetrees - who was feted during her stay in Sydney.
Hall was also on a sure thing with Australian interest in racing. There had been a number of silent films highlighting racing. There would be a number of films afterwards, especially Simon Wincer’s version of David Williamson's Phar Lap. There are many similarities between these two films (as well as highlighting the differences in production and techniques over 50 years). The film makes use of the authentic backgrounds of racehorse breeding, life in the cities, gangster connections with the racing industry, the Melbourne Cup. (It was pointed out that the end of the film was very similar to Frank Capra's 1933 Broadway Bill - which Hall said he had not seen.) The film was written by an American writer Edmond Seward.
The film is photographed by George Heath, has interesting locations as well as rear projection work. It has a regular Cinesound cast. The film creaks a little in retrospect - but was very successful in its time.
1. A popular film of the '30s? The work of Ken G. Hall and Cinesound? In retrospect?
2. Black and white photography, the bush, Sydney and Melbourne, authentic atmospheres? The spirit of racing in Australia? The rear projection work? The eclectic musical score ranging from the Donkey Serenade to thematic background?
3. The characters and types - American models, stereotypes? Local variations - and popular audience response?
4. The popularity of racing, horses, knowledge of horses and breeding, theories about blood and line, sport and gambling, crime? A piece of authentic Australiana?
5. The bush properties, the horse-training, lifestyle? Detail?
6. Ma and her horses (less good at driving cars!)? The clash with the Peels especially about bloodstock theories for horses and humans? Her adopting Joan? Tommy and his place on the property? Her managing horses, the races? The sparring with Peel? The reconciliation - except on the question of human bloodstock? The Australian tradition?
7. Joan as heroine? The American actress and the references to background in Canada? Lively, love of horses, friendly with Tommy, the choice of Stormalong? The training, the hopes, the races? Her liking for Bill? The rivalry between Tom and Bill? Home life. Sydney, the race, the injuries to Stormalong, the burning of the stables, the running of the race? Tommy's injuries? Final choices?
8. Tommy as rough, his not knowing so much about horses but learning, rivalry with Bill, sneering, manners, clothes, the top hat? The buying of Stormalong, the initial failures, growing success? His trying to prove himself? Clashes. the gangsters, kidnapped, the rescuing and the fight, his injuries? The happy ending with Joan?
9. The Peels and Australian aristocracy: the father and his theories, hopes for breeding the best racehorses? Bill and his English background, suave manner, Joan attracted? The Sydney sequences, the Melbourne Cup, the clash with Tommy, the various episodes? The finale - and his losing the heroine?
10. The range of racing hands, jockeys etc.? Authentic atmosphere, detail and comedy?
11. Jenna and the European background, the Italian criminal (referred by the Irish policeman as 'Dagol)? Plans, the tough henchmen, his manner - a caricature? The henchmen and the toughness, the imitation American gangsters, the injecting of the horse, the burning of the stables, the shooting of the horse?
12. The fights, the injections, the fire, the shooting?
13. The focus on the horse, buying of the horse, the early failures, the races, success, the super-horse effort in running the Melbourne Cup, falling, recovering, being shot, winning and dying? The foal?
14. All the ingredients of popular Australian entertainment, 1930s style?
