In one of the eight roles Rooney performed in 1938, far too many for any person with normal amounts of energy, he starred as a stableboy whose favorite horse meets with ill health and just misses the glue factory. A broken-down veterinarian, Beery, performs a miraculous operation on the
horse, cementing a relationship between him and Rooney, and providing the doctor, whose main pursuit had been his next drink, with a bit of self-respect. Although this theme lends itself to over-sentimentality, it's played pretty much at a low key, allowing both Beery and Rooney to do their
bits.
Released:
1938
Rated:
G
Length:
89 mins