Saratoga (1937)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

Anita Loos (story) and
Robert E. Hopkins (story) ...

Release Date:

23 July 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A Tribute and a Triumph that the world demanded to see . . . ! !

Plot:

Carol Clayton is the daughter of a horse breeder at Saratoga. Though engaged to wealthy Hartley Madison...

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Bookie | Horse Race | Millionaire | Real Estate Deed

Cast

Clark Gable	...	Duke Bradley
Jean Harlow	...	Carol Clayton
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grandpa Clayton
Frank Morgan	...	Jesse Kiffmeyer
Walter Pidgeon	...	Hartley Madison
Una Merkel	...	Fritzi
Cliff Edwards	...	Tip
George Zucco	...	Dr. Harmsworth Bierd
Jonathan Hale	...	Frank Clayton
Hattie McDaniel	...	Rosetta (as Hattie McDaniels)
Frankie Darro	...	Dixie Gordon
Henry Stone	...	Hand-Riding Hurley
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pat West	...	Horse Owner (scenes deleted)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3534)

Filming Locations:

Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Clark Gable advised MGM executives of the star potential of Edward James Flanagan (better known as Dennis O'Keefe), who had a small part in this movie. O'Keefe was finally given a co-starring role in The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the opening scene, tire tracks from the camera truck are seen on the horse race track.

Quotes:

Fritzi 'Muggins' Kiffmeyer: Oh, there he is, the sweetheart!
Duke Bradley: Who, your husband?
Fritzi 'Muggins' Kiffmeyer: No, that colt!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Clark Gable: Tall, Dark and Handsome (1996)

Soundtrack:

The Horse with the Dreamy Eyes

Gable/Harlow: One Last Time

Saratoga (1937)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A bookie (Clark Gable) takes a horse ranch from a friend who eventually dies but the man's daughter (Jean Harlow) does what she can to get it back. The troubled history of this film is certainly a lot more interesting than the actual film. Harlow died before the film was completed and apparently MGM was just going to put the film on the shelf but fans wanted it released so the unfinished scenes were eventually shot with a double who most of the time has her back to the camera. The scenes with the double come off pretty badly and they're rather obvious especially with the voice double. It's also rather eerie that there's a running joke in the film about Harlow being sick. As for the actual film, it's pretty disappointing due to the wonderful cast yet it still manages to be slightly entertaining. Both Gable and Harlow are good in their roles but neither do the best work of their career. The film really belongs to Lionel Barrymore who plays Harlow's uncle. He gives a wonderful comic performance and gives the film all of its laughs. Frank Morgan, Walter Pidgeon and George Zucco round out the cast.