Kentucky *** (1938, Loretta Young, Richard Greene, Walter Brennan) – Classic Movie Review 7158

Director David Butler’s 1938 Kentucky is simple, clean-cut romantic and sporting drama, but it is still quite good vintage entertainment.

There is rivalry at the Kentucky horse-racing farms in this soapy but amusing story of love, betrayal and the breeding of Derby winners, based on John Taintor Foote’s novel The Look of Eagles. Loretta Young stars as Sally Goodwin, who bids to pay off her bluegrass family’s debts by winning the Kentucky Derby, while romancing young lover Jack Dillon (Richard Greene).

Loretta Young and Richard Greene are appealing and effective as the Romeo and Juliet of Kentucky, but, among a notable cast, it is scene-stealing supporting star Walter Brennan who won the race for a best supporting actor Oscar (his second in three years) as Young’s troublesome old uncle prolonging the age-old feud going back to the Civil War between the two horse-breeding families, the Goodwins and the Dillons.

Kentucky is given a lift to the winning post by Ernest Palmer’s glorious Technicolor cinematography and the eye-catching scenery. Also there is plenty of local colour and four-legged interest, including the Kentucky Derby finale.

Unusually for the era, 300 African American extras were employed.

Also in the cast are Douglass Dumbrille, Karen Morley, Moroni Olsen, Russell Hicks, Willard Robertson, Charles Waldron, George Reed, Bobs Watson, Leona Roberts, Charles Lane, Charles Middleton, Charles Trowbridge, Harry Hayden, Robert Middlemass and Cliff Clark.

Kentucky is directed by David Butler, runs 96 minutes, is made and released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Lamar Trotti and John Taintor Foote, based on John Taintor Foote’s novel The Look of Eagles, is shot in Technicolor by Ernest Palmer, is produced by Gene Markey and is scored by Louis Silvers.

The 20th Century Fox studio reworked their property as a Pat Boone vehicle in 1957, April Love.

Walter Brennan is the first actor to win three Oscars.

Brennan is the first actor to win three Academy Awards and still the only one to win three Best Supporting Actor Oscars. In 1936 he won the very first Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, for Come and Get It (1936).

There is some doubt about his achievement as Brennan won when Academy rules allowed extras to vote for the nominees, and Brennan had been an extra for some time and was popular among his fellow extra workers. His third Oscar win for The Westerner (1940) led to the disenfranchisement of the Extras Union from voting.

The very right-wing Brennan supported Ronald Reagan’s campaign to become Governor of California in 1966, supported George Wallace’s presidential campaign in 1968, and in 1972 supported extreme right-wing Republican Representative John Schmitz, considering President Richard Nixon too progressive.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7158

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com