Saratoga (1937)

After winning a stud farm in lieu of gambling debts, bookie Duke Bradley turns an eye to the daughter of the now deceased gambler and her millionaire fiancée.

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

Anita Loos (original story and screen play), Robert E. Hopkins (original story and screen play)

Stars:

Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Lionel Barrymore

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Clark Gable	...	Duke Bradley
Jean Harlow	...	Carol Clayton
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grandpa Clayton
Frank Morgan	...	Jesse Kiffmeyer
Walter Pidgeon	...	Hartley Madison
Una Merkel	...	Fritzi
Cliff Edwards	...	Tip
George Zucco	...	Dr. Harmsworth Bierd
Jonathan Hale	...	Frank Clayton
Hattie McDaniel	...	Rosetta (as Hattie McDaniels)
Frankie Darro	...	Dixie Gordon
Henry Stone	...	Hand-Riding Hurley
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pat West	...	Horse Owner (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Carol Clayton is the daughter of a horse breeder at Saratoga. Though engaged to wealthy Hartley Madison, and disgusted by bookie Duke Bradley, her father owes Bradley a lot of money and Bradley takes a shine to her.

---

Plot Keywords:

horse | bookie | gambling | millionaire | debt | 

---

Taglines:

TO THE PUBLIC: We announce the presentation of Jean Harlow's last picture...a production the whole world has been waiting for.

---

Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 July 1937 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jean Harlow's death two-thirds of the way through production was only the first disaster to hit this film. The second, according to a biography of Lionel Barrymore (part of Hollis Alpert's book 'The Barrymores') came when Lionel tripped over a lighting cable and re-broke his hip just before filming wrapped. Barrymore was confined to a wheelchair for the next decade (in addition to the hip injuries, he suffered from arthritis of the knees) before he lost considerable weight and was able to walk with much difficulty for a few more pictures.

---

Goofs

In the opening scene, tire tracks from the camera truck are seen on the horse race track.

---

Quotes

Grandpa Clayton: [Rhetorically] How do yuh think I'm gonna run a stallion farm without a stud?

---

Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth 2 (2013)

---

Soundtracks

"My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night"
(1853) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Foster
Played at the start of the Churchill Downs racetrack scene

User Reviews

Mostly trivia

Not a great movie, it doesn't have the expected chemistry between Gable and Harlow, but many bits of trivia connected with it. It was released as I understand it after public pressure for another look at her. It ended up being her most financially successful film. I think that the cigar scene is one of her best, most understated comic moments.

I don't know of another film finished after its star's death like this. For that alone it is a curiosity. The added footage is very obvious, comical yet macabre. And the ongoing bit about her being sick is equally macabre.

As for the trivia, you have one of Lionel Barrymore's last ambulatory roles; longtime MGM contractee Walter Pidgeon in his first MGM role; Hattie McDaniel singing; The Wizard of Oz having breakfast with the Wicked Witch of the West; and Clark Gable playing probably the only nice bookie in the history of the movies (sort of nice, to Harlow's father at least).

For Harlow at her best, go with Personal Property, Red Dust or Bombshell, but watch this for the trivia.