''The Homestretch'' is a 1947 American
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
directed by
H. Bruce Humberstone and written by
Wanda Tuchock
Wanda Tuchock (March 20, 1898 – February 10, 1985) was an American advertising copywriter, screenwriter, director, and producer during the early 20th century. She was credited with writing for over thirty films, and was one of the at least t ...
. The film stars
Cornel Wilde
Cornel Wilde (born Kornél Lajos Weisz; October 13, 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker.
Wilde's acting career began in 1935, when he made his debut on Broadway. In 1936 he began making small, uncredited app ...
,
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...
,
Glenn Langan
Glenn Langan (July 8, 1917 – January 26, 1991) was an American character actor on stage and films.
Early years
Born in Denver, Colorado, Langan was the son of Thomas Langan and Kate Quinn Langan. He attended schools there. His early training ...
,
Helen Walker
Helen Marion Walker (July 17, 1920 – March 10, 1968) was an American actress.Obituary ''Variety'', March 13, 1968, page 79.
Biography 1920–1940: Early life
Helen Marion Walker was born July 17, 1920 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter ...
,
James Gleason
James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City. Gleason often portrayed "tough-talking, world-weary guys with a secret heart-of-gold."
Life and career
Gleason w ...
,
Henry Stephenson
Henry Stephenson (born Harry Stephenson Garraway; 16 April 1871 – 24 April 1956) was a British actor. He portrayed friendly and wise gentlemen in many films of the 1930s and 1940s. Among his roles were Sir Joseph Banks in ''Mutiny on the Bou ...
and
Margaret Bannerman
Margaret Bannerman (born Marguerite Grand; December 15, 1896 – June 14, 1976) was a Canadian actress. She is known for her work in the English films '' The Gay Lord Quex'', '' Lady Audley's Secret'' and '' Hindle Wakes''. She had a successful c ...
. The film was released on May 4, 1947, by
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
.
Plot
Jock Wallace and Kitty Brant are rival thoroughbred horse breeders. He outbids her for a promising but injured horse, Abby R, paying $500 for it, angering the owner's niece, Leslie Hale, who feels the horse is worth much more.
Jock is attracted to Leslie and invites her to the Kentucky Derby to see another of his horses run. She is involved with a diplomat, Bill Van Dyke, and plans to join him in England for the coronation of King George VI, so Jock decides to pursue her there and enter his horse in the Ascot Gold Cup instead.
On a boat to Argentina, where he intends to race Abby R next, Jock charms Leslie and they are married. But the return of Kitty, combined with Jock's broken promises and racing debts, leads to the pregnant Leslie having a miscarriage and leaving him. Valiant, a horse Jock gave her as a gift, begins winning big races at Saratoga, Belmont, Hollywood Park and other major tracks. Jock gets a gift horse from Kitty and decides to run it against Valiant in the Kentucky Derby. Leslie's horse wins by a nose, but Jock wins back her love.
Cast
*
Cornel Wilde
Cornel Wilde (born Kornél Lajos Weisz; October 13, 1912 – October 16, 1989) was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker.
Wilde's acting career began in 1935, when he made his debut on Broadway. In 1936 he began making small, uncredited app ...
as Jock Wallace
*
Maureen O'Hara
Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...
as Leslie Hale
*
Glenn Langan
Glenn Langan (July 8, 1917 – January 26, 1991) was an American character actor on stage and films.
Early years
Born in Denver, Colorado, Langan was the son of Thomas Langan and Kate Quinn Langan. He attended schools there. His early training ...
as Bill Van Dyke III
*
Helen Walker
Helen Marion Walker (July 17, 1920 – March 10, 1968) was an American actress.Obituary ''Variety'', March 13, 1968, page 79.
Biography 1920–1940: Early life
Helen Marion Walker was born July 17, 1920 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter ...
as Kitty Brant
*
James Gleason
James Austin Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter born in New York City. Gleason often portrayed "tough-talking, world-weary guys with a secret heart-of-gold."
Life and career
Gleason w ...
as Doc Kilborne
*
Henry Stephenson
Henry Stephenson (born Harry Stephenson Garraway; 16 April 1871 – 24 April 1956) was a British actor. He portrayed friendly and wise gentlemen in many films of the 1930s and 1940s. Among his roles were Sir Joseph Banks in ''Mutiny on the Bou ...
as Don Humberto Balcares
*
Margaret Bannerman
Margaret Bannerman (born Marguerite Grand; December 15, 1896 – June 14, 1976) was a Canadian actress. She is known for her work in the English films '' The Gay Lord Quex'', '' Lady Audley's Secret'' and '' Hindle Wakes''. She had a successful c ...
as Ellamae Scott
*
Ethel Griffies
Ethel Griffies (born Ethel Woods; 26 April 1878 – 9 September 1975) was an English actress of stage, screen, and television. She is remembered for portraying the ornithologist Mrs. Bundy in Alfred Hitchcock's classic '' The Birds'' (1963). Sh ...
as Aunt Martha
*
Tommy Cook as Pablo Artigo
See also
*
List of films about horse racing
The following is a list of films featuring horse racing.
List
See also
* List of films about horses
* List of highest grossing sports films
*List of sports films
References
{{Equestrian sports
*
Films about animals playing sports
Horse ...
References
External links
*
1947 films
20th Century Fox films
American drama films
1947 drama films
Films directed by H. Bruce Humberstone
Films scored by David Raksin
Films with screenplays by Wanda Tuchock
1940s English-language films
1940s American films
{{1940s-drama-film-stub