Product: That Gang of Mine [VHS] (1940)
Rating: 2.0
The East Side Kids Visit a Racetrack
That Gang of Mine, 1940 filmA mailman delivers the mail. [Note the small bag.] Muggs expects a letter. "I was only kidding!" [Note the natural lighting in these scenes.] Will he become a jockey? The boys try painting their club. They hang out at a stable. Muggs rides a real horse until he fall off! Its owner tells his story. Knuckles questions Denny about the truck. Can they enter this "Blue Knight" into a race? [$100 was a lot of money then.] Can they find a backer? Algy talks to his Dad about this horse. Is he satisfied? Muggs has to get in shape for the weight requirement. Muggs rides the horse around the track. Sammy dances to a song by Ben. They hope to win the race."They're off!" The scenes show a racetrack. Muggs mounts up. The horses race off, people cheer (as if that could affect the race). But "Blue Knight" fails to win. Louise says goodbye. A man says the horse needs a better trainer and rider. Morgan will do the job, he gets an experienced jockey who does better. [Note his riding position.] Morgan gives information to a gambler, Nick, who has a plan. Morgan trains Muggs as a jockey, but he doesn't have the ability. Blackie makes a proposition to Knuckles about easy money, but it is strongly rejected. They guard "Blue Knight" at a house. Ben talks to Muggs about the race. Later there is a fire! [Dirty tricks to fix the race?] Muggs agrees to a replacement. [A lesson here.] The race begins (Jimmy rides "Blue Knight"). It is a photo finish! There is a happy result for the boys. Will Muggs choose a new career?This is an early version of what became a long series of low-budget movies. Some parts reflect life in those days. Its not as good as the later movies. The setting at a racetrack must have reflected popular tastes of that era. This movie could have used a better writer and story.