Boots Malone (1952)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

William Dieterle

Writer (WGA):

Milton Holmes (written by)

Release Date:

4 July 1952 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

The story of a boy who left home... and a stumble bum who never had one!

Plot:

Boots Malone is jockey's agent and a bit of a wheeler-dealer who went from living at the Ritz to living...

Plot Keywords:

Horse Racing | Character Name In Title

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15

2:30 PM

TCM

Cast

William Holden	...	Boots Malone
Stanley Clements	...	Stash Clements
Basil Ruysdael	...	Preacher Cole
Carl Benton Reid	...	John Williams
Ralph Dumke	...	Beckett
Ed Begley	...	Howard Whietehead
Hugh Sanders	...	Matson
Harry Morgan	...	Quarter Horse Henry (as Henry Morgan)
Annie Lee	...	Mrs. Gibson (as Ann Lee)
Anthony Caruso	...	Joe
Billy Pearson	...	Eddie Koch, Jockey
Johnny Stewart	...	Thomas Gibson Jr. aka The Kid

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

The Ride of Their Lives

William Holden (he's Boots) is an agent for jockeys (horse, not disc); he's in debt, and out-of-luck. Along comes young Johnny Stewart (he's Tommy) -- skipping school during Easter vacation, he wants to ride the horses. Mr. Holden senses the Kid has money, and decides to take him for a ride. He allows the runaway to stay with himself and pal Stanley Clements (he's Stash). Unbeknownst to Holden, the Kid takes him for the ride of his life.

An indispensable film, for several reasons, chief among them:

#1 -- The electrifying performance of Johnny Stewart, mainly; though, everyone is fine. I did wonder, though, what Holden was thinking in some of the emotional scenes with Stewart -- Holden looked, perhaps, a little dumbfounded at the younger actor's flawless performance. Production cast and crew should be credited; and, obviously, director William Dieterle.

#2 -- The apparently realistic backdrop of horse-racing, jockeys, and Dellington Park. If this isn't accurate, it sure seems close enough. To top that off, the movie uses the setting to effectively tell a bigger story. It's not that difficult to figure out, but you'll get the full picture in a brief scene between Tommy the Kid and the crusty old trainer Preacher (Basil Ruysdael).

The film takes some relieving trips off the beaten track. For example, the "Big Race" at the end is tremendous because you aren't sure what Stewart is going to do; and, the whole "mother falls in love with the boy's hero…" solution is dispensed with.

Highly recommended.

********* Boots Malone (1952) William Dieterle ~ William Holden, Johnny Stewart, Stanley Clements, Basil Ruysdael