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Poster for Kentucky Blue Streak (1935)

Kentucky Blue Streak (1935)

1935 · Feature film · 59 min · dir. Raymond K. Johnson

He broke jail to ride the winner!

  • Drama
  • Crime
Watch now On the Internet Archive

Synopsis

Mary Bradley leaves her family's farm in Cloverdale, Kentucky to visit her brother Johnny, a jockey, in San Francisco. Their reunion is interrupted by Harry Johnson, who tries to convince Johnny to ride in the illegal race at the Pagona fair. After Mary and Johnny learn that the colt Mary brought to California to sell has broken a leg, Johnny agrees to go along with Harry's scheme. After Harry is shot, Johnny is arrested on the belief that he wanted to stop Harry from blackmailing him. Although he is innocent, Johnny agrees to a plea bargain under the alias Barnsdale so that he will not disgrace his family. A reporter, Marty Marion, who is investigating the racetrack rackets, helps Johnny obtain a work release. Meanwhile in Kentucky, Mary prepares to enter her horse, Blue Streak, in the Kentucky Derby. With the family farm already heavily mortgaged, Mary appeals to District Attorney Barton Pierce to pay the race entrance fee. Johnny reads about the approaching Derby and escapes prison to attend the race, but Marty has anticipated Johnny's reaction. In Kentucky, Marty gains admittance to a Derby ball, and when Barton sees Marty with Mary, he becomes jealous. Later, to increase his horse's odds, Barton spreads a rumor that Johnny will be his jockey for the Derby, but plans to have him arrested before the race begins. On the day of the race, Marty discovers Barton's scheme and is able to stop him.

Synopsis from OMDb

Details

Director
Raymond K. Johnson
Writer
Rose Gordon
Cinematography
Irving Akers
Studio
C.C. Burr Productions Inc.
Released
1935-05-01
Running time
59 minutes
Language
English
Collection
Feature Films

Cast & crew

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★★ · Feel Good Little Racing Movie · bobsluckycat · 2006-04-14

This light-weight little film, once you get by the down home "darkie" singing, dancing, and foolishness at the begiining of the film, is a dark horse winner. The story is implausible but you get carried along with it. It obviously wasn't filmed at Churchill Downs, but by the time you get there, who cares anyway. Everybody left the theatre feeling good after a satisfying happy ending. Eddie Nugent, a handsome light leading man is fine as the reporter. Frank "Junior" Coglan already a leading juvenile star from the silents forward is perfectly cast as the jockey, and he even did his own riding…

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