O Trapaceiro

One of the best horse, jockey and racing stable films ever made. An enjoyable Lassie Comes Home film with racehorses instead of dogs. It illustrates with great accuracy the thoroughbred race horse-world with what appears to be authentic been there- done that background talk and which transports the viewer into the somewhat risky world of the small County Fairs travelling race horses trainers, hired on the spot track-jockeys and conscientious track officials. Apart from the star Wm Holden the casting was superb, Holden's acting and city-gent physical-appearance did not fit the horse-trainer role he played. In my view the actor who played the blacksmith role a Mr Basil Ruysdael was by far the best actor for this Boots Malone role (a likeable, friendly and honest horse trainer) Holden should have played the winning horses wealthy upmarket owner with the champion to be boy-jockeys screen mother playing the part of Holden loveable wife and the wannabe -jockey boys mother. This is a 9 star film, and I award a Golden Horse Shoes to all the cast. Johnny Stewart the boy actor/newcomer was exceptional. With very few script changes you have here a Classic Box Office Winner here. Thank you to the producers and the 'gamblers' who financed this 1952 Boys Town with Horses Film. Watch it and shut up and escape the dreaded Covid-19 news for 1-hour 45 minutes, this is a good film, and its made for children everywhere and code-approved!