Kentucky

Director: David Butler David Butler

Overview

The blue grass of Kentucky was seen in three-strip Technicolor for the first time in this rambling racetrack drama. Sally Goodwin (Loretta Young) falls in love with Jack Dillon (Richard Greene), but the arrangement is complicated by a decades-old feud. Sally's uncle Peter (Walter Brennan, who won his second Academy Award for this appearance) has hated Jack's family ever since sides were chosen up in the Civil War. Jack secretly trains Peter's horse for the Kentucky Derby, causing the old man to nearly withdraw from the event out of pique. All is forgiven when the horse wins, but Brennan dies of the excitement, and his eulogy is read by a member of the family with whom he'd been feuding for nearly 70 years.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/29/2014
UPC:	0024543934707
Original Release:	1938
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00
Sales rank:	30,600

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Loretta Young	Sally Goodwin
Richard Greene	Jack Dillon
Walter Brennan	Peter Goodwin
Douglass Dumbrille	John Dillon,John Dillon, 1861
Karen Morley	Mrs. Goodwin, 1861
Moroni Olsen	John Dillon II, 1937
Russell Hicks	Thad Goodwin, Sr., 1861
Willard Robertson	Bob Slocum
Charles Waldron	Thad Goodwin, 1937
George Reed	Ben,Old Ben
Bobs Watson	Peter Goodwin, 1861,Thad Goodwin, Jr., 1861
Leona Roberts	Grace Goodwin
Charles Lane	Auctioneer
Charles Middleton	Southerner,Southerner
Harry Hayden	Racing Secretary
Robert Middlemass	Track Official
Billy McClain	Zeke
Madame Sul-te-wan	Lily
Cliff Clark	Melish
Meredith Howard	Susie May
Charles Trowbridge	Doctor
Eddie "Rochester" Anderson	Groom
Stanley Andrews	Presiding Judge
Frederick Burton	Presiding Officer
John Nesbitt	Commentator
Joan Valerie	Lucy Pemberton
Chick Chandler	Clerk
Thaddeus Jones	Zeb
Walter Miller	Cavalry Sergeant
Lee Shumway	Sergeant
John Elliott	Purchaser
Stymie Beard	Boy
Edward Earle	Man
Margaret Irving	Woman
Lee Murray	Palisades' Jockey
Willie Saunders	Postman's Jockey
Bobbie Thomson	Blue Grass' Jockey
Robert Lowery	Dance Partner at Ball
Douglas Wood	Race Track Patron
Mme. Wan	Old Lily

Technical Credits

Lamar Trotti

John Foote

David Butler	Director
Gene Markey	Producer
Darryl Zanuck	Producer
Lamar Trotti	Screenwriter
John Foote	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

It hasn't aged as well as the bourbon that shares its name, but Kentucky still has enough charm to make many viewers overlook its defects. The biggest one, related to the time in which it was made, is its stereotypical view of race relations; it's not as offensive as many other films from the 1930s, but there's enough here to make many viewers a bit uncomfortable. Kentucky's other big drawing card -- 3-strip Technicolor -- also is not the novelty it once was, but the colors here really are vivid and give the picture genuine beauty. And speaking of beauty, a youthful Loretta Young has rarely looked more enchanting. She fairly sparkles and is filled with a vivacity that is contagious. Her performance is every so slightly self-conscious in places; this was one of her first starring parts, and she's still feeling her way occasionally. But overall, it's a winning and lovely performance. Walter Brennan is also in fine form, even if his work is not necessarily Oscar-worthy, and Richard Greene makes a fine match for Young and reluctant sparring partner for Brennan. The screenplay -- an updating of Romeo and Juliet, basically -- varies in quality, but it's generally solid, and David Butler's well-paced direction takes advantage of the setting and the yummy colors to very good effect. Even if Kentucky is somewhat flawed, it does offer some rare glimpses of some incredibly gorgeous racehorses.