SPORTING BLOOD (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1931) directed by Charles Brabin, is a horseracing story, one of many produced at that time since and beyond. Taken from the story "Horseflesh" by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, rather than concentrating on a story about a jockey and his horse, for example, the opening credits claims this to be a biography about a horse. Of the twelve film releases featuring Clark Gable, SPORTING BLOOD is relatively known for being his first starring role. Even though he comes 42 minutes into the story, it's the second billed Ernest Torrence who's very much the leading human character and thoroughbred Tommy Boy both its subject matter and main focus.
The story begins with Jim Rellence (Ernest Torrence), a horse breeder in Lexington, Kentucky, showing off his many horses to his friend, Maguire (J. Farrell MacDonald). During a heavy rainstorm, Southern Queen is reported missing only to be found injured with a broken leg resting in a puddle of mud where she has given birth. Unable to save the horse, with the help of Uncle Ben (John Larkin) and Sammy (Eugene Jackson), Jim and Maguire return the colt they name Tommy Boy to the farm where he's milk fed and later placed under the care of a new mother horse. From pony to full-grown horse, Rellence, very much attached to Tommy Boy, finds himself having to sell the thoroughbred to Jerry Hartwick (Harry Holman) in order to keep his horse-trading business. Hartwick enters Tommy Boy to the races at Latonia where the horse wins the race, attracting the attention of Angela (Marie Prevost), who insists her husband, Bill Lideking (Hallam Cooley) buy him for her. He offers Hartwick $40,000 for Tommy Boy, only to have the thoroughbred purchased by gambler "Tip" Scanlon (Lew Cody) only after Mrs. Lideking loses interest in him. Hoping to earn some big wages from his gambling friends, Scanlon drugs Tommy Boy to win. Losing the race and unable to pay off his debts, Scanlon attempts to leave town and fails in the process. With Tommy Boy now under the ownership of Ruby (Madge Evans), Scanlon's mistress of three years, she and her new love interest, "Rid" Riddell (Clark Gable), former gambling table dealer under Scanlon, must decide what's to happen to this poor animal used only as a "reward for past favors.
Although the story is well-paced through much of its 82 minutes, its presentation with "My Old Kentucky Home" theme song has more to its Fox Films/20th Century-Fox (where many horse racing themed stories were produced) feel to it. There are some cute elements involving animals. One that stands in memory is of a little dog imitating the horse's gallop. While Madge Evans has more to do than Gable, Gable one scene of merit is grabbing on to Evans and saying, "Come here, woman!" Evans' introduction to the story as a tough-looking cigarette smoking mistress may be placed against type but is well-played. Ernest Torrence, a fine actor with a rough exterior, is quite believable as a man showing his love and affection for his many horses, especially Tommy Boy.
With this being Clark Gable (sans mustache) on his way up to super star status, the supporting players benefit well in their assigned roles that keep this from being just another horseracing story. Though MGM produced another SPORTING BLOOD (1940) with Robert Young and Maureen O'Sullivan, that latter edition is not a remake.
Other than some limited broadcasts on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, SPORTING BLOOD is available for viewing on DVD. (***)
