Movie spotlight
Tycoon J.L. Higgins controls his whole family, but one of his sons-in-law, Dan Brooks, and his daughter Alice are fed up with that. Brooks quits his job as manager of J.L.'s paper box factory and devotes his life to his racing horse Broadway Bill, but his bankroll is thin and the luck is against him. He is arrested because of $150 he owes somebody for horse food, but suddenly a planned fraud by somebody else seems to offer him a chance...
A down-on-his-luck horse owner, Arthur 'Happy' Joe values his beloved, but aging, racehorse over financial stability. Despite his wife's pleas, he enters the horse in a prestigious race, hoping for a win that will solve their money problems. Along the way, he encounters various colorful characters and faces numerous obstacles that test his resolve and his love for the sport.
Broadway Bill was a commercial success and generally well-received by critics for its heartwarming story, Capra's direction, and the performances of its cast, particularly Baxter and Loy. It was seen as a classic example of a feel-good, Capra-esque film that appealed to a broad audience.
Praised for its blend of humor and sentimentality.
Myrna Loy's performance was highlighted as a standout.
Frank Capra's directorial touch brought a unique charm to the story.
Google audience: No specific Google user reviews or ratings are available from the era for a precise summary.
None notable.
The film was one of the first major productions by Columbia Pictures to feature a story about horse racing, a theme that would reappear in later films.
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At a family dinner, patriarch "Higgins" (Walter Connolly) - who has his name on practically everything - is bemoaning the failures of his cardboard box division. That's run by son-in-law "Dan" (Warner Baxter) but he's bored witless by the w...