Product Details

• Actors: Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Sophie Tucker, C. Aubrey Smith, Ronald Sinclair
• Directors: Alfred E. Green
• Writers: Dalton Trumbo, Eleanore Griffin, Harold Gould, J. Walter Ruben, Lawrence Hazard
• Producers: Harry Rapf
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1992
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302478979
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,462 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney were both incredibly popular with the movie-going masses and extremely lucrative for MGM Studios. In Thoroughbreds Don't Cry (1937), Garland plays Cricket West, an aspiring singer who helps her Aunt Edie (Sophie Tucker) run a boarding house for jockeys. Rooney is Timmie Donovan, the best jockey on the turf--and he ain't afraid to tell you so (Timmie's known as a "swellhead" around town). When young Englishman Roger Calverson (Ronald Sinclair) arrives with his grandfather Sir Peter (C. Aubrey Smith), Cricket is taken. Roger and Sir Peter intend to race their prize stallion, "the Pookah," and want Timmie as jockey. The genteel Roger and cocky Timmie get off to a rough start, but soon bond over their love of the turf.

But all is not as smooth as it seems. Timmie's rascally father "Click" Donovan wants a piece of the action and tests Timmie's loyalties to both Roger and racing. When Sir Peter dies suddenly, Roger is left destitute and must sell the Pookah unless he can somehow get the $1,000 entry fee for the Cup--and get Timmie to ride for him again. The intrepid Cricket tracks down a remorseful Timmie and convinces him to help Roger. But a last-minute maneuver by Click throws their plans out of whack, forcing Roger to make an unexpected decision about the big race.

Though not a musical, Garland gets to display her powerful pipes with the recurring "Goin' to Town." Thoroughbreds Don't Cry ends with the three friends happily riding their horse trailer into the British sunset. --Dana Van Nest

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My All-time favorite movie!, April 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Thoroughbreds Don't Cry [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry is a wonderful movie! It is the first of eight movies that Judy Garland (who is only 15 in this movie) and Mickey Rooney did together. Judy Garland, playing Cricket West, is the niece of a "dame who runs a boarding house" (played by Sophie Tucker). She befriends a perfect young gentleman from England named Roger Calverton, who is trying to convince a very good jockey, Timmie Donovan (Mickey Rooney), to ride his horse for the Cup. Judy Garland is sensational as the spunky Cricket, and Mickey Rooney portrays the cocky "swellhead" very well. Ronald Sinclair is also good as Roger Calverton. I would highly recommend this movie!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine early Garland/Rooney vehicle, August 7, 2007

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Thoroughbreds Don't Cry [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry provides us with the first look at the wonderful pairing of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. The plot moves along at a good pace and there are a few twists and turns to hold your attention as well.

The action begins in England when Sir Peter Calverton (C. Aubrey Smith) decides to take his racehorse, The Pookah, to America to enter the horse in a race. Sir Calverton takes along his grandson Roger Calverton (Ronald Sinclair) for the trip. They arrive in America and want to engage the rather arrogant Timmie Donovan (Mickey Rooney) to be the horse's jockey. At first Timmie and Roger don't exactly hit it off; but after a little finesse and diplomacy on Sir Calverton's part, Timmie decides to be the jockey for The Pookah.

The Pookah doesn't win because Timmie believes his father is ill and they need to "throw the race." When Sir Calverton sees his horse lose the race he suffers a fatal heart attack. From here on in it becomes anybody's guess as to what will happen next. Will Timmie ever legally ride again? Will Roger be forced to sell The Pookah and return to England almost broke? What about Cricket (Judy Garland)? Will she be able to influence Roger and Timmie to find a solution? What about Cricket's Aunt Edie (Sophie Tucker)? How will she be able to help things--if at all?

No spoilers here, folks, you'll just have to watch the movie to find out!

The movie, filmed in glorious black and white, offers great cinematography in the racing scenes and the choreography in the scenes in Aunt Edie's home impressed me very much.

Overall, Thoroughbreds Don't Cry isn't exactly my pick for the best Garland/Rooney MGM movie ever made--in fact, Cricket (Judy Garland) scarcely gets a chance to sing much in this film except the song "Got A Pair Of New Shoes." Nevertheless, the plot moves along well and the actors never let you down--they do a fine job with the material they are given.

I highly recommend this movie for fans of classic movies from Hollywood's golden age; and fans of the MGM Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland vehicles will enjoy this movie, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And They're Off!, December 28, 2006

By 

Samantha Glasser "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Thoroughbreds Don't Cry [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry is the first of the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland teaming that lasted through their teenage years. They make a great pair even though it isn't always obvious here as they are not often in the same scenes. Roger Calverton (Ronald Sinclair) and his grandfather (C. Aubrey Smith) come to America to promote their horse in the states. They need a wonderful jockey to build him up and go after the cockiest one in town, Timmy Conovan (Mickey Rooney). He lives in the home of Cricket West (Judy Garland) whose family runs a boarding house for jockeys. The three form a team and hope to win the race. However, problems with Timmy's dad causes problems for him on the track, and it isn't a cinch their horse will win.

We all know what will happen in the end, but it is great fun watching it all happen with such a great cast. Garland is young and wonderful here though her part is much smaller than might be expected. She gets to make us laugh a few times and sings a few bars from "Got a Pair of New Shoes" here and there, but her part isn't vital to the story. The real stars are Rooney and Sinclair, a great team that reminds us of Rooney's films with Freddie Bartholomew. Sinclair is much like Bartholomew with his youthful innocence, sophistication, and English accent. All in all, this breezy movie is a great way to entertain yourself.