Home in Indiana

Plot synopsis:
Having just been sent away to live with his uncle and aunt in Indiana, teenager Sparke Thornton (Lon McCallister) has a penchant for trouble. At first, he is not satisfied with the arrangement, and continues to express his rebellious behavior. Already on his first day, he plans on running away, but crossing a harness racing track convinces him to stay in Indiana. The owner, Godaw Boole (Charles Dingle) welcomes Sparke, and introduces him to Char Bruce (Jeanne Crain), a tomboyish girl who loves to race horses. A servant (George Reed) informs him that his uncle Thunder Bolt (Walter Brennan) was once part of harness horse racing as a respected sulky driver.
Returning home, Sparke informs his family about his love for horses, but Thunder orders him to put his focus on school instead. The next day, he ignores his uncle's demands and visits the racing track, where his instinctive rapport of a stallion impresses Godaw's seductive daughter, Cri-Cri (June Haver). She convinces Jed Bruce (Ward Bond) to help Sparke learn how to drive. Even though he performs poorly during his first trainings, Sparke is allowed to come back due to his humility. While bonding with Char and Cri-Cri, he learns how to successfully guide a harness horse.
One night, Thunder becomes drunk and reacts violently towards Sparke. Due to his confusion, Thunder's wife Penny (Charlotte Greenwood) explains that Thunder was once partners with Boole, until Boole's harsh treatment of a mare led to a quarrel. Thunder has retired from horseback riding ever since, but still feels an urge to return. Moved by the story, Sparke becomes desperate to help out his uncle and starts collecting documents that helps Thunder's only remaining horse with her delivery. Thunder is initially furious at Sparke for interfering, but he is grateful for the outcome.
Meanwhile, Sparke's growing infatuation with Cri-Cri causes him to shift away from the track regularly. Cri-Cri feels that he is too young to take seriously, though, and prefers the attention of Gordon Bradley (Robert Condon). Sparke is not aware that Char is madly in love with him, and instead considers her as 'one of the guys'. Meanwhile, he continues to train the horse's foal, who, during her first race, is seriously injured. Shortly after her recovery, Sparke realizes how Char feels about him and responds to her love.
Thunder has since found out that the foal is going blind, but nevertheless allows Sparke to race her. Through determination and skills, he wins the race. Returning home with the horse, who has convinced Thunder to return to his business, Sparke kisses Char.

Tags: romantic

Review:
My favorite movie 60 years ago.
I am old enough to have seen this movie first run.
At the time I was blown away by this film because it had every thing in it any city kid would want to be able to do, which mostly was race horses and have a pretty girl interested in the same thing as a friend.
Since this film was so important to me I feel compelled to correct an error in the cast listing by IMDb. Currently Jeanne Crain's character is listed as Char Bruce which is correct, but June Haver's character is listed as Cri-Cri Bruce which would make them sisters which they are not!
Cri-Cri is the daughter of Godaw Boole, the owner of the horse farm where Char's father is the head trainer, soooooo Cri-Cri's last name should be Boole, not Bruce!
I have no idea how this casting error crept into IMDb's data base, but as a movie fan interested in accuracy I'm requesting that IMDb correct this mistake.
I know I am right in this because I've seen this film at least 20 times over the years and have read the book that the film is based on (The Phantom Filly)..
When is Home in Indiana going to be on DVD.
Home in Indiana is a wonderful movie.
I saw this on AMC when I was a kid and still remember it.
It's a film about a troubled youth who comes to live on his aunt and uncles farm.
At first he doesn't want to be there but then he makes some friends and eventually gets involved in some kind of chariot horse racing.
The music score and talent makes this film a classic.
Another movie called April Love, with Pat Boone and Shirley Jones , came out about 20 years after Home in Indiana and copied the premise of the movie.
Jeanne Crain is the one I remember most in this film, I think it was her second film.
I think Fox released this movie and I hope they release this timeless movie on DVD soon, along with other Jeanne Crain films..
Good Casting Buoys Farm Film.
For those who like horses and horse racing, "Home in Indiana" offers a pleasant diversion.Focusing on three in the cast, this was Jeanne Crain's first notable role, and what a "natural" she is.
Completely at home before the camera, she shows early on her quintessential "girl-next-door" charm.Paired with the equally "boy-next-door" Lon Mcallister, the two are perfect together.
Lon came with a full list of juvenile film roles, and looked like the personification of a callow Indiana farm boy.As for the amazing Walter Brennan, this was just another of his inexhaustible number of roles, always appearing much older than he actually was.A further look at Brennen's folio, he made a whopping 63 films in three years (1933-35)!
Can you imagine that?
I can't.The three together, along with Charlotte Greenwood as the proverbial "farm marm," offer a most convincing group of typical ranchers, struggling between corn crop mores and big city conventions--the latter represented by June Haver.And those mares--absolutely beautiful!.
Location for racing scenes in Home In Indiana.
The trivia section states that the racing scenes for this movie were shot in Fremont, Ohio.
That may be true for the early scenes, but the final race in which Maudine IV races after going blind were shot in Marion, Ohio at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
Although it has changed a lot in recent years, I spent many of my early years playing in the stands at the fairground and even rang the "call to the post" bell that is rung in the movie.
My mother told us stories of seeing the stars of the movie at the fairgrounds when they were filming.
One of the older guys I used to work with claimed he dated June Haver when they were in town.
Even if I didn't believe him, I have no doubt that my mother was telling me the truth.The list of filming locations does credit Marion, as well as several other locations where harness racing was one of the main local pastimesI do enjoy the movie and try to catch it whenever it is on (generally on the FOX movie channel)..
Charming lead performance from Lon McAllister..
Your reaction to HOME IN INDIANA will depend entirely on whether you are a horse racing fan or at least a fan of films about horse racing.
Since I am neither, I found this movie pretty dull going except for the acting and human interaction.Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood are very good in the early part of the film and are convincing as the tough, unsentimental guardians of Sparke, played by Lon McAllister.
Jeanne Crain is fresh and likable and was clearly a face, body and personality to watch, though she looked much prettier and sexier a year later in STATE FAIR.
June Haver presents us with her doll-like perfection and seems as bright, chilly and inhuman as ever (she later became Mrs. Fred MacMurray after a stay in a convent).The real find here was Lon McAllister.
Poised and completely charming, he had an easy way with dialogue, an expressive face and an ingratiating smile.
This should have been the beginning of big things for him, but it wasn't.
Too bad the perky, Mickey Rooney boy-next-door types were going out of fashion (Rooney himself never regained the stardom he enjoyed before he went into the military during WWII.) McAllister ought to have succeeded in television, but perhaps he tired of show business.
Wonder what happened to him after this?.
Way back home in Indiana.
This movie just makes you feel good.
And not in any sappy way, but in the freshness of the setting and the characters, the coming-of-age bits that aren't forced, and the way Walter Brennan's character is brought back to life as he re-engages in the thing he loves, horse racing.
And the way his wife delights in the transformation.
It's a small miracle, brought on by the unexpected: a boy who's a relative is sent to live with the farm couple after he's gotten into trouble back home.
At first he's resented but he becomes the catalyst for Brennan's redemption - and finds his own redemption, as well.
A couple of girls (Played by Jeanne Crain and June Haver, both future Fox stars) are in the mix as well, and if you like trotting horses, and racing, you will enjoy this lovely slice of life, with outdoors prominently featured.
It should refresh and invigorate you..
Warm, but not Sappy.
Hard not to like this picturesque celebration of America's heartland.
Sure, it's idealized, filmed as though it stepped off the pages of a glossy Town and Country magazine.
And that's along with a super-engaging Crain and McCallister whose two youthful innocents seem worlds away from today.
Add Brennan and Greenwood as the tough-love adults and it's a great core cast.
The values are strictly family and conservative-- right down to grace before dinner-- but in a non-sanctimonious way.Director Hathaway paces the spare plot nicely so that events never drag.
McCallister's got to get surrogate dad Brennan back into the horse business.
But to do that, he must win a trotter's race (an Indiana specialty), and in the process develop eyes for the de-glamorized tomboy Crain who's stuck on him.
Naturally there are complications, including Haver's glamorous rich girl who proves a temporary distraction.
But, surprise, surprise, things do work out in the end.No, they sure don't make 'em like this any more, right down to the Huck Finn swimming hole and Greenwood's stern mother figure looking like she stepped off that famous American Gothic painting.
Hollywood's nostalgia factory was hitting on all eight with this warm, non- sappy tale.
I guess my only reservation is why they went to Kentucky to film a tribute to Indiana.
Oh well, we're probably lucky they didn't cut corners and do it in the studio backlot..
"As American as America itself!".
Starched and scrubbed-clean family film has delinquent, orphaned teenager going to live with his aunt and uncle, ditching school to hang out at the next-door horse ranch and learn how to harness race.
Lovely color photography, beautiful autumnal locales, and fine racing sequences bolster this thin drama, which seems to be in favor of cutting classes as long as you have a passion for something else!
Dimply Lon McAllister is entirely too polite and green in the lead, though his friendships with neighboring sisters June Haver (the bombshell) and Jeanne Crain (the tomboy) are entertaining, and his devotion to the horses is well-portrayed.
Some amusing characters and sequences, but it doesn't have the scope or depth of something like "National Velvet" (released the same year).
This Henry Hathaway-directed effort is far more innocuous and minor, but still enjoyable, especially for equestrians.
My take on this movie.
My take on this movie.
1944 had another horse movie, being National Velvet.
We were in the middle of World War II, and I suppose this was another Americana type movie to take people's mind off the big conflict.
Jeanne Crain would be seen the next year in another agri-country movie, State Fair.
June Haver I had seen in Look for the Silver Lining, being a charming person and not the imp as in this movie.
Walter Brennan I enjoyed seeing as a main character, not anyone's sidekick.
Tuppy and Mo were just superb.
Charlotte Greenwood I would see in Oklahoma, dancing at the train station, and also doing her famous high kicks in a 1930s movie with Eddie Cantor.
I enjoyed seeing Ward Bond in a non-Western movie.
He was a nice, decent man, as the trainer and also as father of Jeanne Crain.
The race track looked like Washington County Fairgrounds, Ohio (a little).
I wonder why the actor who played Sparke was not in the military service?
I notice he had no mother, and neither did the two girls.
Hope he ended up finishing his education.
Nothing like an uneducated boob who thinks he knows everything.
Maybe he later really got that second belting from his uncle.
I'm sure that Cri Cri tried some more of her man-handling on him later, but the movie ended.
This was an enjoyable piece of Americana.
It was during WWII wartime, and I saw nothing about wartime shortages, gasoline and food rationing, Rosie-riveters working in the factories, but hey, this is a fantasy meant for people to feel good.
In praise of horses, one of man's best friend..
The presence of three newcomers in this 1944 homie drama makes this historically important as well as visually appealing, considering the gorgeous landscape of the Indiana country utilized to unwrap a gorgeous view of a way life used to be.
The three newcomers are Lon McAllister, Jeanne Crain and June Haver, all talented and filled with potential.
They are joined by veteran actors Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood in a touching story of a troubled young man's arrival in Indiana, being taken in by aunt and uncle Greenwood and Brennan, and turning his life around thanks to his involvement and the local horse racing track.One of the interesting elements of this film is showing McAllister becoming very close friends with two black characters, the young Willie Best and the older Sam McDaniel who work at the horse racing track.
McAllister, unspoiled by society, treats them as equals and while it is never pointed out, Best becomes his closest friend with McDaniel pretty much playing his mentor.
Tomboyish Crain and glamorous Haver provide chip healing feminine elements of the story with Crain obviously secretly jealous of the upper-class Haver.The gorgeous Technicolor filming makes this easy on the eye, especially with the seasons changing and the various leaf colors same throughout the film.
on extended Christmas sequence in the movie makes for perfect holiday viewing as well.
The most impressive story elements is the close relationship that McAllister gains with Aunt Greenwood who has stuck by embittered alcoholic Brennan through his disappointments over losing his horses in the past, but when McAllister inspires Brennan to get back into the sport, it becomes very touching.
this is crowd-pleasing for sure, and it truly does stand the test of time..
Don't Think About the Moonlight on the Wabash In This One **.
..."When I think about the Moonlight on the Wabash, I'll think about my Indiana home." Remember Jane Froman singing that beautiful song?
Well, you can just forget about the tune in this 1944 film.
That being said, the musical score playing this song is about the best thing this dud of a film has to offer.Lon McAllister plays the troubled youth who comes to live with his Uncle and Aunt Bolt, played by Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood.
Greenwood has one very effective scene in the film when she describes to her nephew why Uncle Bolt is the way he is.
It's all about the usual gripe and grudge he has against his former partner, played by Charles Dingle.
Remember him 3 years before as Bette Davis's suspicious brother in "The Little Foxes?" Dingle is reduced to having little to do here.
The plot in the film is weak and the script is even weaker.
Jeanne Crain, in her supposed first mature film, comes off as if she is ready to join Mickey and Judy to create a show in the barn.The film deals with horse racing, something which was close to Walter Brennan's heart when he starred in his supporting Oscar winning performance 6 years before in "Kentucky."The disappointing end with the horse matches the film-one big disappointment.
See June Haver, Mrs. Fred MacMurray, as the girl with designs on McCallister as well.