The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby

Movie spotlight

The Kentucky Derby

1922
Movie
57 min
English

Posing as relatives, Ralph and Helen Gordon visit Col. Moncrief Gordon's Kentucky mansion, hoping to marry Helen to the colonel's son, Donald. The colonel agrees, but Donald balks at the suggestion, then reveals his secret marriage to Alice Brown. The colonel turns them out, and Ralph conspires with Bob Thurston to frame Donald for theft of Colonel Gordon's wager money and to shanghai him. After 3 years Donald discovers the source of his misfortune, returns, finds his wife, hears of a plot against his father's best racehorse, wrings a complete confession from Thurston, and saves the Derby for his repentant father.

Insights

Director: Paramount Film ServiceGenres: Documentary, Short

Plot Summary

This short documentary captures the excitement and pageantry of the 1922 Kentucky Derby. It showcases the thoroughbred horses, jockeys, and the thrilling atmosphere of one of America's most famous horse races. The film offers a glimpse into the sporting events and social gatherings of the era.

Critical Reception

As a short documentary from 1922, specific critical reception is difficult to ascertain. However, films of this nature were generally produced to document significant events and entertain audiences with newsreel-style content, likely receiving a positive reception for its timeliness and visual record.

What Reviewers Say

  • A historical document of a significant sporting event.

  • Captures the atmosphere of the 1920s racing scene.

  • Provides a visual record of the Kentucky Derby for its time.

Google audience: Information on Google user reviews for this historical short film is not available.

Fun Fact

This film is considered an early example of sports documentary filmmaking, providing a valuable historical record of the Kentucky Derby and American sports culture in the early 20th century.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review