''The Great Dan Patch'' is a 1949 American film directed by Joseph M. Newman about the pacing horse

Dan Patch Dan Patch (April 29, 1896 – July 11, 1916) was a noted American Standardbred pacer. At a time when harness racing was one of the largest sports in the nation, Dan Patch was a major celebrity. He was undefeated in open competition, and was so ...

. The film is also known as ''Ride a Reckless Mile'' (American reissue title), and ''Dan Patch''.

Synopsis

In the 19th century's final decade, chemist David Palmer returns to

Oxford, Indiana Oxford is a town in Oak Grove Township, Benton County, Indiana. The population was 1,162 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Oxford was Benton County's first town. Commissioners appoi ...

, after living in Chicago for a few years. He returns to marry school teacher Ruth Treadwell. Upon his arrival, David receives a warm welcome from his father, Dan, who makes a living breeding race horses. Dan is disappointed, however, when David tells him they plan to move to Indianapolis. Ruth, who has looked forward to join the sophisticated social life in Chicago is also disappointed by the news. Ruth is satisfied when they move to Indianapolis and buy land where David starts his new job. Soon, David visits Oxford to watch his father's new horse debut on the track. A mistake by the groom severely injures the horse, who can be used only for breeding thereafter. Dan attempts to breed the horse with Joe Patchen, a reputable stud from Illinois, and the resulting colt is named Dan Patch. The colt grows into a strong horse, ready to train for the racetrack with trainer Ben Lathrop. One day David gets a visit from Ben and his tomboy teenage daughter Cissy at the estate. Ruth treats the visitors poorly, who has turned into a socialite with no interest in horses. Ben tells David that Dan Patch has made a record training run before he and his daughter leave. David receives a telegram from his aunt Netty stating exposing his father's illness. He rushes to Oxford and is by his father's side as he passes. David makes a promise to his dying father that he will continue training Dan Patch. He brings the horse to Indianaolis and builds a race track on the estate. Ruth is not happy with the development. As they quarrel, David realizes that he doesn't love her anymore. However, the training is successful, and Dan Patch wins his first race at a county fair. Soon the horse is ready for big races, winning in Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus. In Kentucky, Ben becomes ill and David takes his place as a driver. Since the other drivers refuse to race, realizing their horse won't beat Dan Patch. The horse gets to race against time, and breaks the record, running a mile in under two minutes. Because of trouble at David's regular work at the chemistry company, Ruth tells him to come home and solve it, not willing to risk her lifestyle. David sees no other alternative than to return to Indianapolis. When he goes to tell Ben and Cissy, he sees one of the younger drivers, Bud Ransome, talk to Cissy. Later, a fire breaks out in the stables. David and Cissy extinghuis it, saving the horses. When David comes back to Ruth, he tells her he has decided to sell the estate, quit his job and continue breeding horses instead. She demands a divorce, refusing to live on the farm with him. Ruth gets most of their assets in the divorce, while David keeps the farm and Dan Patch. Cissy is overjoyed that he has returned, having had a crush on him for years. David understands he is in love with young Cissy, and together they decide to sell Dan Patch for $60,000 to be able to live on the farm and continue breeding horses. David and Cissy eventually marry and are blessed with a daughter. The horse goes on to break his own record, running a mile in 1 minute fifty-six seconds in 1906. He makes money from different commercial deals. In his last race, watched by David and his family, Dan Patch beats his own record by a full second.

Cast

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

as David Palmer *

Gail Russell Gail Russell (born Betty Gale Russell; September 21, 1924 – August 26, 1961) was an American film and television actress. Early years Gail Russell was born to George and Gladys (Barnet) Russell in Chicago and then moved to the Los Angeles ...

as Cissy Lathrop *

Ruth Warrick Ruth Elizabeth Warrick (June 29, 1916 – January 15, 2005) was an American singer, actress and political activist, best known for her role as Phoebe Tyler Wallingford on '' All My Children'', which she played regularly from 1970 until her ...

as Ruth Treadwell *

Charlotte Greenwood Frances Charlotte Greenwood (June 25, 1890 – December 28, 1977) was an American actress and dancer. Born in Philadelphia, Greenwood started in vaudeville, and starred on Broadway, movies and radio. Standing almost six feet tall (some sour ...

as Aunt Netty *

Henry Hull Henry Watterson Hull (October 3, 1890 – March 8, 1977) was an American character actor perhaps best known for playing the lead in Universal Pictures's ''Werewolf of London'' (1935). For most of his career, he was a lead actor on stage and a ch ...

as Dan Palmer *

John Hoyt John Hoyt (born John McArthur Hoysradt; October 5, 1905 – September 15, 1991) was an American actor. He began his acting career on Broadway, later appearing in numerous films and television series. He is perhaps best known for his film and TV ...

as Ben Lathrop *

Arthur Hunnicutt Arthur Lee Hunnicutt (February 17, 1910 – September 26, 1979) was an American actor known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, and old rural characters. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ...

as Chet Williams *

Clarence Muse Clarence Muse (October 14, 1889 – October 13, 1979) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, singer, and composer. He was the first African American to appear in a starring role in a film, 1929's ''Hearts in Dixie''. He acted for ...

as Voodoo *

Harry Lauter Herman Arthur "Harry" Lauter (June 19, 1914 – October 30, 1990) was an American character actor. Early years Lauter was born in White Plains, New York. He worked as a model for a professional photographer and was a rodeo rider before m ...

as Bud Ransome *Visalia Abbe as Dan Patch, a Horse

Soundtrack

* Clarence Muse - "Can't Get You Then - Can't Get You Now" (Written by

Martin Broones Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

) * Clarence Muse - "Mixed Team" (Written by Alexander Laszlo) * "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night" (Written by

Stephen Foster Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826January 13, 1864), known also as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour music, parlour and Minstrel show, minstrel music during the Romantic music, Romantic ...

)

References

External links

* *
The Great Dan Patch
available for free download at Free-Classic-Movies.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Great Dan Patch 1949 films American black-and-white films American horse racing films Films about horses 1949 drama films Films directed by Joseph M. Newman American drama films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films

Synopsis

Cast

Soundtrack

See also

References

External links