This was a little gem about bucolic New England. Based on a famous 19th century play, the story is set in summery rural Massachusetts where nothing happens. The big event in the town is the new preacher who scandalises everybody by not preaching hellfire and brimstone sermons. A beautiful orphan lives with her aunt on a farm. Both the son of the evil landlord, and the farm hand are courting her. Unfortunately, her aunt's mortgage is falling due and she will be evicted unless the niece marries the son. As she prepares to sacrifice herself, a down and out breaks into the farm looking for food. This is provided, and a job offered. The down and out notices that the family horse, Cold Molasses, has a fair turn of speed. Being an ex-jockey from Saratoga(!) he offers to race the horse at the county fair, where there is a three grand prize. In the race he is pipped at the post by Lightning, the landlord's horse. However, dark deeds have been afoot: interestingly, in view of recent events, Lightning's rider carried a battery with which to give the horse an electric shock to make it go faster. The evil landlord and son are run out of town, the girl and the farm hand marry, and even Auntie frogmarches an elderly admired into matrimony.
In a slight sub-plot at the fair, a small boy offers a small girl a drink at the soda fountain. When he cannot pay, the girl transfers her affections to a slightly older boy who can. The small boy then wins some money by catching the greasy pig, which he puts on Cold Molasses. Seeing the prize money, the small girl's affections are suddenly transferred back.
The acting was excellent, with the lead characters being very fluid rather than stilted, as so many were at the time. The storyline worked, though modern audiences might find it difficult to accept why Sally contemplates marriage to save her aunt from eviction. Sally was played by a very attractive, and suitably virginal looking, Helen Jerome Eddy. Whilst the burglar seeking food and being taken into the house was a very Christian message for a township which honoured religion more in the breach, the fact that he happened to be a jockey somewhat strained credibility. I preferred the buggies to the cars.
In a slight sub-plot at the fair, a small boy offers a small girl a drink at the soda fountain. When he cannot pay, the girl transfers her affections to a slightly older boy who can. The small boy then wins some money by catching the greasy pig, which he puts on Cold Molasses. Seeing the prize money, the small girl's affections are suddenly transferred back.
The acting was excellent, with the lead characters being very fluid rather than stilted, as so many were at the time. The storyline worked, though modern audiences might find it difficult to accept why Sally contemplates marriage to save her aunt from eviction. Sally was played by a very attractive, and suitably virginal looking, Helen Jerome Eddy. Whilst the burglar seeking food and being taken into the house was a very Christian message for a township which honoured religion more in the breach, the fact that he happened to be a jockey somewhat strained credibility. I preferred the buggies to the cars.