Figure 1.--The English grandfather dies and a crooks tries to swindle the Pooka (the thoroughbred) from the boy. The English boys wears different short pants suits.
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Figure 1.--The English grandfather dies and a crooks tries to swindle the Pooka (the thoroughbred) from the boy. The English boys wears different short pants suits. |
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry is rather a fore runner of National Velvet (1944) which has a similar theme. It is a good example of 1930s film making. Cynacism had not yet begun to be expected in films. Modern viewers will find it a bit hokey, but old films buffs will enjoy it. It is notable as the first film which starred Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney together. They are joined by 13 years old Ra Hould/Ronald Sinclair, who was from New Zealand. He was about 13 years old at the time. The producer reportedly wanted Freddy Bartholmew, who was about the same age, to play the part, but he was busy making Captain's Courageous (1937) and couldn't do it. Ronald rather charmingly plays a rich n English boy who comes to America with his grandfather to race their champion horse, the Pooka. Ronald's New Zealand accent probably sounded English to most Americans, although I don't detect a New Zealand accent. At their very first race they see Mickey, who plays a tough acting jockey, brilliantly ride a winner. Ronald and his grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith) want him as their jockey, which leads to all kinds of complications.
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry is rather a fore runner of National Velvet (1944) which has a similar theme. It is a good example of 1930s film making. Cynacism had not yet begun to be expected in films. Modern viewers will find it a bit hokey, but old films buffs will enjoy it.
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry was only a minor B film. It is notable, however, as the first film which starred Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney together. Judy playing Cricket West had musical numbers. It also starred a relative unknown today, Ra Hould. His role, however, was rather lost by the strong performances by Judy and Mickey. There were some puppy love scenes between Ra and Judy, but the real dramatic scenes, such as they were, in the film were the scenes in which Mickey and Jufy interacted. It was here that Mickey began calling Judy "Joots".
Judy and Mickey are joined by 13 years old Ra Hould/Ronald Sinclair, who was from New Zealand. He was about 13 years old at the time. Ronald rather charmingly plays the rich English boy.
The producer reportedly wanted better known Freddy Bartholmew, who was about the same age, to play the part, but he was busy making Captain's Courageous (1937) and couldn't do it. Another source suggests Freddy's voice was failing.
Ronald plays a rich English boy who comes to America with his grandfather to race their champion horse, the Pooka. Ronald's New Zealand accent probably sounded English to most Americans, although I don't detect a New Zealand accent. At their very first race they see Mickey, who plays a tough acting jockey, brilliantly ride a winner. Ronald and his grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith) want him as their jockey, and Ronald goes to Mickey's boardinghouse to make an offer. Ronald is invited to have supper at the boardinghouse with Mickey and the other jockeys, who are also amused at his short pants suits and exquisite British manners at the table and make fun of him. Ronald even has to outslug Mickey in a fistfight outside the boardinghouse. He brings him home to see his grandfather and convince him to ride the Pooka. Perhaps Mickey and his cohorts had a new found respect for polite, well dressed English boys! In the film Mickey has troubles with gamblers. His father convinces him that he is dieing and the needs money for an iron lung. They convince him to throw a race when he rides the Pooka. Ronald's grandfather dies and he almost loses ownership of the horse. Mickey teaches Ronald how to become a jockey. Ronald wins the crucial race that pays him enough money to keep his beloved horse. As the film closes, Judy, Mickey, and Ronald appear set to enjoy a successful racing career.
Ronald is costumed very formally in the film. He wears several short pants suits and neckties, always with knee socks for most of the film. Some of his kneesocks have patterened turn-over tops. Strangely although his suits are well tailored, his shirts for the first half of the film don't fit him. Hard to understand, considering MGM was hardly a fledgling, shoestring operation. A HBC reader writes, "Ronald's shirt is quite large for him when we first meet him; the neck size and collar are too big. Wardrobe did much
better for his later scenes. In one scene I think Roger wears no tie, but wears that large shirt collar over his coat collar." At the boardinghouse, he hears Judy Garland playing the piano and introduces himself. Judy stares in mild disbelief at Ronald, attired in his short pants suit, and asks him, "Aren't your knees cold?" Ronald looks a bit puzzled, not quite sure what she meant and answers "No, I don't think so". Actually it is a bit puzzling for a girl who wears dresses and has bare knees to ask that question.
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