The Great Dan Patch (1949)

What Man O' War was to flat thoroughbred racing Dan Patch was to the sport of harness racing. During the Teddy Roosevelt era in our history this horse was a much a sports hero as Christy Mathewson or John L. Sullivan. He retired undefeated and as the film shows many of his races were simply against the clock as he tried to beat his own pacing speed records which stood for many years. But the film The Great Dan Patch is about his original owners who bred and trained him and the trouble that one of them had with the women in his life. Dennis O'Keefe who was raised on an Indiana farm by father Henry Hull and aunt Charlotte Greenwood had a love of horses, but also a love of science. He patented some chemistry formulas and became wealthy. However two women are in love with O'Keefe. Gail Russell who is the daughter of Dan Patch's original trainer John Hoyt and Ruth Warrick who is the town school teacher.O'Keefe's life would have been real simple had he married Russell who shares his interest in horses. But Warrick marries a man who will allow her to live and circulate in high society. She's got an interesting part, it's almost like O'Keefe married the grandmother of Harriet Craig.If you're expecting a Secretariat like movie with the emphasis on the horse, this will not be the film for you. The Great Dan Patch just keeps on winning harness races as the humans around him make great big mistakes in their personal lives.It's a decent film, but I would like to have seen more of the horse.

This feature is a solid drama based loosely on the career of the famous race horse Dan Patch, with a good emphasis on the lives of the persons who owned and trained him. Although it certainly emphasizes what a unique and nearly unbeatable horse Dan Patch was, it looks even more closely at the dramas taking place among the human characters.Much of the story focuses on the son (played by Dennis O'Keefe) of the horse's original owner, who is torn between a successful career and an ambitious wife on the one hand, and his passion for horses and attachment to old friends on the other. The supporting cast does a good job, with Henry Hull as the father, John Hoyt as the old-time horse trainer, and Gail Russell as the trainer's daughter. Ruth Warrick also succeeds in the thankless role of O'Keefe's wife.Although most of the production is done in a very straightforward manner, it still works all right because the issues faced by the characters are easy to identify with. Aside from being somewhat predictable and sometimes a bit plain-looking, it's a solid feature.

I got this movie in a package and thought that it did not look like anything that I would like. I'd never seen Dennis O'Keefe, who is quite watchable... He plays a pretty good role, as does Ruth Warwick as his highly unlikeable, social climbing wife... Lots of good character parts, although the woman that Dennis thinks of leaving his wife for is a bit on the boring side, tho true blue. This is no Seabiscuit, and there are no huge surprises; however, for a fluff movie, the issues of divorce and possible adultery are quite intriguing (for the era). So you see, I thought the movie was much more about the people. I can't quite tell if my comments look as if I liked the movie or not... I did like the movie.

This movie is about 30% accurate, but manages to capture the essence and appeal of the big horse, Dan Patch. The horse was unbeaten in 11 years of racing on the track and, by all accounts, kind and gentle off the track. The level of the horses appeal can be measured by the fact that the day after the horse died, the owner, M. W. Savage, also died. I believe the two female leads turn, Gail Russell and Ruth Warwick turned in exceptional performances, with Ms. Warwick giving a performance of award-Winning caliber. Maybe Claire Trevor deserved the best supporting actress Oscar that year, but I think Ms. Warwick deserved at least a nomination. The rest of the cast gave workmanlike performances. Truth may be stranger than fiction, but, in this case, fiction can make a better movie than fact.