Customer Reviews

Riding High

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just recently got this movie and have watched it twice. I absolutely love it! Don't listen to those who gave this movie 1 star..... it's definetly a 5 star! Bing's performance is just awesome! He was always such a truthful actor, and in this movie you can really see his own personality come into the character. And I thought Coleen Gray's performance was very good also. I think that she portrayed her character perfectly. I really enjoyed the music also. And "Sunshine Cake" was not "sentimentality at its most obnoxious" as one reviewer said.......the characters were just being goofy and having fun, and I really enjoyed it (people shouldn't take things so seriously). This movie has become one of my favorites, and I highly recommend it. It's a light, fun, and humorous movie with some really charming scenes and songs.

I love the energy and enthusiasm of Capra's films, and I disagree with Maltin's description of the film as "unmemorable entertainment." I have seen it twice and hope to see it again. There is such a high level of quality throughout...not only in the techniques of film making, but in the incredible appropriateness of the acting...body language, facial expressions, interactions between characters, and so on. I suppose I am old fashioned, but I don't see this level of quality in many of today's films. Sure our technology is awesome, but what do we do with it...Make some pretty stupid, boring films in which people walk around like zombies, speaking lines they don't seem to understand, and don't utilize their faces or bodies to support the scenes. I find this film uplifting and exhilarating, and completely entertaining from beginning to end. Capra claims in his autobiography that he wanted to do this remake Broadway Bill because Warner Baxter, the original star, was nervous around horses, and did not really acheive what Capra wanted. I have not yet seen Broadway Bill, so I can't compare... but this remake contains original 1934 footage ingeniously integrated into the ca. 1951 scenes. An actor from 1951 engages in a telephone conversation with someone who was filmed in 1934! Great fun.

I love the energy and enthusiasm of Capra's films, and I disagree with Maltin's description of the film as "unmemorable entertainment." I have seen it twice and hope to see it again. There is such a high level of quality throughout...not only in the techniques of film making, but in the incredible appropriateness of the acting...body language, facial expressions, interactions between characters, and so on. I suppose I am old fashioned, but I don't see this level of quality in many of today's films. Sure our technology is awesome, but what do we do with it...Make some pretty stupid, boring films in which people walk around like zombies, speaking lines they don't seem to understand, and don't utilize their faces or bodies to support the scenes. I find this film uplifting and exhilarating, and completely entertaining from beginning to end. Capra claims in his autobiography that he wanted to do this remake Broadway Bill because Warner Baxter, the original star, was nervous around horses, and did not really acheive what Capra wanted. I have not yet seen Broadway Bill, so I can't compare... but this remake contains original 1934 footage ingeniously integrated into the ca. 1951 scenes. An actor from 1951 engages in a telephone conversation with someone who was filmed in 1934! Great fun.

On the whole this is a nice romantic comedy, but ***SPOILER*** the horse dies towards the end which ruined it for me.

Bing Crosby is quite good in this movie, neither a straight-up crooner nor half a comedy act.
He plays a rather ordinary fellow who gets mixed up with an extraordinarily stuffy family by falling in love w/ one of the (temporarily) available daughters.
Horse sense prevents one huge mistake, but Bing almost misses out on the "Princess" who'd like to be his queen (Coleen Gray).
More than one totally silly musical scene, including "Bake a Sunshine Cake," and "The Horse Told Me."
Attempts at stabbing in the back (after all, there's a big horse race at stake) and a little good-natured conniving add depth to the story. The underdog (in this case a horse and his owner) come out on top, the girl gets her man, and even Bing's future father-in-law shows a glimmer of horse sense in the end (Joseph Cotton is perfect for the role!).

...This is a fun film about, "King Turf" and all the varied characters on the backside of any and all racetracks...it's a satire about thourough/bred racing big/small...it is done up very well and professionally...it was filmed at the track of the 'stars'...the original Del Mar Racetrack on the ocean there...it was financially-vested by Bing Crosby-Bob Hope-Betty Grable-Harry James-Pat O'Brien-Jimmy Durante to name only a few...look what Del Mar has become over the decades...a Grade-1 racing venue from then a wooden track to today's monolith of a great horse racing facility for all those who frequent this temple of fun/enjoyment; [including the packed infield]...when you enter Del Mar today you will hear Bing Crosby singing to you his welcome to Del Mar song...with that backdrop all you naysayers need more intel before tearing this movie too bits...Crosby is a natural in this habitat, so what if the vivacious Collen Gray lights up the screen kissing-up to Crosby...olde 'Colonel' Raymond Washburn is a cagy phony wandering around for tips, etc for the hot best/bet horse of the day...but Bing is the show here...nice and easy with a more than willing cast; horses included...sit back and enjoy this wonderful movie [DVD]...it doesn't cost so much to try and have a nice day, does it??....SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF

This film marks the beginning of the end for Frank Capra. His creativity appears to have deserted him -- he makes extensive use of footage from his own, far superior Broadway Bill. It is understandable that he would use footage from the earlier film's climactic, thrilling horse race. But he also intercuts entire scenes from the earlier film, then brings back the actors and apparently expects us not to notice that they're 14 years older! The only point of interest is one of the last appearances of Oliver Hardy. Otherwise, you'd be best advised to catch Broadway Bill instead.

I am quoting Humphrey Bogart in the above title of this review. He was referring to a film his own production company, Santana Productions, made called "Sirocco." .

I tend not to review movies I don't like because I have no enthusiasm for them. In fact, this is the first time I have done so. Everything about this movie is inane: the performances (especially Coleen Gray's, whose idea of acting is to grin as widely as possible and sparkle her eyes. One wishes she had never gone into the business.), the silly dialogue, the phony script, etc., etc.

It only has two things going for it: A beautiful horse which is a delight to watch, though frustrating as the characters treat him so shabbily, and his mascot and pal, a darling rooster, Obviously trained to be performers, they easily outshine all their human co-actors.

Oh, and the music. Insipid, especially a song called "The Sunshine Cake." Sentimentality at its most obnoxious. Bing finally does sing "Camptown Races," but by this time you don't care.

There are better horse movies. There are much better Crosby movies. Can't think of one good reason to view this one unless you want to waste your time!