Joan (Helen Twelvetrees) is a Canadian, adopted by Ma Dawson (Nellie Ferguson), a struggling horse breeder and trainer. Joan thinks "legs don't make a race horse, it's blood", and so she buys an unwanted thoroughbred colt called Stormalong. Helped by Ma's son Tommy Dawson (Frank Leighton), Joan restores the horse to health and fitness, and soon enough the horse is winning race after race, becoming a favourite for the Melbourne Cup.
Acting
Twelvetrees carries entire film with steel-eyed warmth.
Production
Authentic 1930s Australian racing culture preserved.
Cinematography
Sydney racecourses shot like cathedral of hope.
Director
Ken G. Hall
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hall made this to prove Australia could compete with Hollywood production values—Twelvetrees was his imported star power.
The real Melbourne Cup 1936 was won by Wotan; Stormalong is fictional wish-fulfillment for Depression audiences.
US
AU
