Kentucky (1938)

Copyright 30 December 1938 by 20th Century Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy, 23 December 1938. U.S. release 30 December 1938. U.K. release: March 1939. Australian release: 13 April 1939. 8,630 feet. 96 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A longstanding feud between two Kentucky families is resolved when the son of one falls in love with the daughter of the other and he helps her horse defeat his own father's entry in the Kentucky Derby.NOTES: Academy Award, Supporting Actor, Walter Brennan (defeating John Garfield in Four Daughters, Gene Lockhart in Algiers, Robert Morley in Marie Antoinette and Basil Rathbone in If I Were King). With a domestic rentals gross of $1.5 million, an equal second at U.S./Canadian ticket-windows for 1938.VIEWERS' GUIDE: Okay for all.COMMENT: All eyes at our recent screening were originally focused on Walter Brennan, but we soon tired of his performance. Not only is it the same old portrait we're already familiar with, but his acting is exaggerated and his make-up unconvincing. No way would we have voted him an Oscar ahead of any of the other contenders.No, the person who soon took our attention was Loretta Young. Never has she looked more beautiful or acted with such charm, conviction and finesse. Not only does she look really attractive in Technicolor but her costumes have a style and appeal that still seems fashionable and captivating in 2017.The other players pale beside Miss Young. Best of the cameo artists is Willard Robertson. Rochester's bit as a singing groom also drew our attention. But Moroni Olsen is stiff and unlike-able (fortunately these qualities suit his role); whilst Richard Greene has plenty of the eager-beaver about him, but lacks the sort of macho charisma we expect in a male lead. Just think what someone like Clark Gable could have done with the part!!Some of our favorite character players flit by in small roles, including Douglass Dumbrille and Charles Lane. Alas, our pet aversions, the Watson brothers, are both in this movie, but confined fortunately to the 1861 Prologue scenes.Although the story is rather unusually constructed — the Prologue is followed by a short documentary section as off-camera narrator John Nesbitt sings the praises of Kentucky, and only then does the plot proper begin — it's too slight and predictable to retain the interest for long. This of course is where Technicolor comes in. When the scenery is so attractive and it's dressed with such professional élan, it doesn't really matter that the characters were clichés and the situations old-hat when Shakespeare was a lad.OTHER VIEWS: Despite having to carry a wet hero (and his dad), plus indulge a scene-chewing character player, director Butler manages to get a lot of entertainment value out of a rather simple and thoroughly predictable little yarn in which not a single family horse-racing cliché is missed. Part of the reason for this success is undoubtedly producer Zanuck's free hand with the studio's money, including his decision to strengthen the picture with Technicolor. Winsome Loretta Young looks mighty fetching! — J.H.R. writing as Tom Howard.There are some pictures that need color, others for which color is simply an added attraction. Kentucky belongs firmly in the former category. Yet oddly it was frequently aired in black-and-white on TV in the 60s, 70s and even in the 80s. Anyone watching this movie in black-and-white will be bored witless. But in color, the movie is great entertainment. Made with all the customary Fox expertise, including superb photography and marvelous sound, this up-to-date color print of Kentucky certainly hits the spot! Mind you, I can't see why Walter Brennan created such contemporary excitement. I've seen him give some deserving charismatic performances — The Westerner for example — but Kentucky is strictly cornball. — J.H.R. writing as George Addison.

The Look Of Eagles is what every great race horse has according to Walter Brennan in Kentucky. It's that gleam in the eye that you see in any athlete, human or equine, that tells you he's got heart. In the case of horses, heart enough to go the distance of a mile and a quarter, the set distance of the Kentucky Derby.The third Oscar for Best Supporting Actor went to Walter Brennan for Kentucky as the 34 year old Brennan made up with white hair plays unreconstructed rebel Peter Goodwin, grand uncle to Loretta Young. This film set a standard for Brennan who played very little, but old codgers after that.The leads in Kentucky are Loretta Young and Richard Greene who was no doubt brought to 20th Century Fox as a backup for Tyrone Power. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the film was developed as something for Power originally who co-starred with Young on a few occasions.The two are three generations removed from the Civil War which split the families apart. In a prologue to the modern story, the head of the Dillon family sides with the Union and the head of the Goodwin clan goes with the Confederacy. Later on Douglass Dumbrill head of the Dillon family now an officer in the Union Army raids the Goodwin farm and the head of the Goodwin family is shot and killed and the thoroughbred horses they were raising are taken as war contraband. Young Bobs Watson sees all this and he grows up to be Walter Brennan.When Greene speeds by in a car and catches sight of Loretta Young on a horse, it's love at first sight, but a forbidden love because of the family feud. Greene and Young have a rocky road ahead, not helped by the fact that he gives up the banking business and goes to work for the Goodwins under an alias because she won't give him the right time of a day if she knows he's one of the hated enemy.The 1938 Kentucky Derby is worked into the plot where Calumnet Farms Lawrin ridden by Eddie Arcaro wins and Arcaro also gets a line in the film. Lawrin stands in for the three year old colt owned by one of the feuding families. But the win is also clouded by tragedy.A lot of black players get into Kentucky, but sad to say in some truly stereotypical roles. It's probably why Kentucky is rarely seen these days. I hadn't seen it myself in about 35 years.Still for Brennan's dominating performance and Loretta Young at her prettiest you can't go wrong with Kentucky.

Real footage of Lawrin's win. 2 horses, Bluegrass & Postman. I just wanted to point out that the silk colors for Blugrass/Lawrin were green w/white polka dots.Eddie Arcaro won his 1st Derby aboard "Bluegrass" aka Lawrin.Im surprised no-one picked up on this !!! Same w/"Glory" (1956). The film footage of "Glory" winning was actual footage of Swaps/Nashua in 1955. The silk colors in the movie match Swaps & Nashua.I recommend this movie because of the locations & Loretta Young. Scenes of the farms in KY like Calumet, Greentree and others add to the beauty of it all.

Loretta Young, Richard Greene and Walter Brennan star in "Kentucky," a 1938 film about a longstanding dispute between two families, horses and the Kentucky Derby. Well directed by David Butler, the film was made in beautiful color.The film begins during the Civil War, when young Peter watches as the Yankees take the thoroughbred horses from the Goodwin farm and kill his father when he tries to stop them. He never forgets that the Yankee Dillon family is responsible and 75 years later (as Walter Brennan) still hasn't forgiven them. Now in his 80s, he lives with his son, his wife and daughter on the farm where they train and breed thoroughbreds. The farm is in trouble, and when his son can't get a loan from the bank (presided over by his Dillon contemporary), he dies, leaving Sally (Young) his heir. Everything is sold off except for one horse, which is ruined for racing one night when Sally has to ride in the rain to get a doctor for her mother - the road is blocked by a tree so she can't drive. However, due to a bet Dillon and Goodwin made, Dillon has written a note offering any two-year old on his farm to Goodwin. Sally claims the horse for her father, a horse chosen by Uncle Peter. The younger Dillon (Greene), angry with his family, gives Sally a false name and offers to train the horse for her. The two fall in love.Were it not for World War II, Richard Greene today might be on the list of stars of the classic era. He was getting the star buildup by 20th Century Fox and would have been a rival for Tyrone Power, but when war broke out in England, he returned to serve his country, losing all his career momentum. With his wavy black hair, widow's peak and dazzling smile, the handsome Greene resembles Robert Taylor in this film and is a good pairing with the beautiful Loretta Young. The great performance comes from Walter Brennan. Someone posted that he was 38 playing a man in his 60s. No, he wasn't. The film clearly states that it's 75 years since the Civil War, making Uncle Peter, who was about 10 when the soldiers arrived, nearer to 85. Brennan pulls it off. He won an Oscar for his performance. The film boasts some exciting racing scenes as well as a good story.Brennan gives a great performance, and the romantic stars are attractive, but the true stars of "Kentucky" are the most magnificent horses you've ever seen. Although the trivia section of IMDb doesn't state it, those horses must have come from some thoroughbred farm. It's not only horses, but beautiful foals and colts. If you like horses, this movie is a no-miss. The animals are jaw-dropping, even better looking than Richard Greene and Loretta Young.