Keep 'Em Rolling (1934)

Director:

George Archainbaud

Writers:

Leonard Nason (story)
Albert S. Le Vino (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 March 1934 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

Sergeant Benny Walsh, a U.S. Army cavalryman, and his horse, Rodney, share a kindred spirit that is sympathetic to each other's needs...

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Virginia | Efficiency Expert | Horse | Pension

Cast

Walter Huston	...	Sgt. Benjamin E. 'Benny' Walsh
Frances Dee	...	Marjorie Deane
Minna Gombell	...	Julie
Frank Conroy	...	Captain R.G. Deane
G. Pat Collins	...	Sergeant Tom Randall
Robert Shayne	...	Major James Parker
Ralph Remley	...	Sgt. Bill Corbett
The Officers and Men of the 16th Field Artillery U.S.A.	...	Themselves

Also Known As:

Rodney (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1343-R, 29 August 1935 for re-release) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Cameraman William Casel was killed and his assistant injured when a cannon slipped as they were following it up a hill.

Soundtrack:

The Darktown Strutters' Ball

Good Movie About loyalty that the Defense Dept. Should Watch!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I really enjoyed this old hay-burner, literally that, about how a man and his horse manage to skirt the levels of military bureaucracy and support each other along the way.

In fact I believe that some crucial elements of the film would be instructive to the Department of Defense even today, if they get it. Walter Huston is excellent in the film in expressing the need for persons who have displayed valor but have been passed over in the sense of newer generations coming of age and discarding the ways of the past. This movie was filmed during the same period of time that also included the Bonus Marchers who camped outside in Washington D.C. to remark upon their needs as unemployed men during the depth of the depression for a promised bonus to World War I veterans. Their march was broken up by none other than General to be Douglas MacArthur in a controversial move which echoes down to the present time with similar controversy regarding retired workers in various industries.

The movie's events are contemporaneous with the actual events of "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" and verges on some of the events of that film but has a happier denouement and ending.

Maybe I was just susceptible to its message which found me at a time when I was looking for arguments with respect to current events of Haditha and other matters of how we conduct ourselves during the war in Iraq, but I think it would stand up on its own in any time with a timeless message and I recommend it highly.