In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
Two Thoroughbreds (1939)

Release date:
Dec. 8, 1939

Cast:
Jimmy Lydon, Joan Leslie (billed as Joan Brodel), Arthur Hohl, Marjorie Main, J.M. Kerrigan, Selmer Jackson, Spencer Charters, Paul Fix, Bob Perry, Al Ferguson, Frank Darien, Paul Harvey
Animals: Rex the Dog, Crystal Jack the Horse

Studio:
RKO Radio Pictures

Director:
Jack Hively

Plot:
When thieves steal the horse, Larkspur, from her stable, her colt runs after and gets loss. David Carey (Lydon) finds the colt while working on his Aunt Hildy (Main) and Uncle Thaddeus’s (Hohl) farm. David’s parents are dead and his Aunt and Uncle are not kind to him, but let him keep the colt, believing it could bring them money. When David meets Wendy (Leslie), he realizes the colt belongs to her family and fears they will think he’s the thief.

1939 Notes:
• Jack Hively began directing in 1939, starting with THEY MADE HER A SPY (1939). Hively directed five films in 1939.
• Jimmy Lyndon began acting in 1939. This was his fourth film.
• By the numbers:

Other trivia:
• Joan Leslie was billed as Joan Brodel
• Working title for the film was “Sunset.”
• In the promotion of this film, Jimmy Lydon was touted as the next Mickey Rooney.
• The horses were insured for $15,000 for the 15 days they were in production, according to an Oct. 19, 1939, news brief.
• Before the film went into production, Jimmy Lydon and Joan Leslie spent two hours a day with the horses for a week so the animals would get accustomed to them, according to an Oct. 19, 1939, news brief.
• Filmed in Malibu Lake, Calif.

My review: Searching for the “1939 feature”:
Several performers had their breakout film roles in 1939, from established stars like John Wayne and Lana Turner, to Hollywood’s younger stars. Two of those younger stars appeared in this film, TWO THOROUGHBREDS: Jimmy Lydon and Joan Leslie.

In the film, Lydon plays orphan David Carey, who lives with his unkind aunt and uncle (Main, Hohl). He finds a colt, who has gotten lost after running after its mother who is taken by horse thieves. David doesn’t know that the colt belong to a wealthy family, until meeting their daughter, Wendy (Leslie).

Lydon’s film career was in young adult roles, as he performed in the Henry Aldrich film series. But he broke into films in 1939. His film success was partially helped by losing out on a film role, according to a Nov. 23, 1939, news brief from Louella Parsons.

Jimmy Lydon did not get the title role in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” (1938). His parents turned to the stage, where Lydon performed in several plays. When he returned to films, his first movie was the starring role in “Back Door to Heaven” (1939). For many years, child actor Lydon was the only person in his family making a salary, according to his 2022 Hollywood Reporter obituary.

Jimmy Lydon

“Jimmy Lydon is going to be the biggest acting sensation since Mickey Rooney,” wrote Louella Parsons on Nov. 23, 1939. Lydon may never have reached Rooney’s success, but he’s much more sweet and endearing in this film.

For Joan Leslie, who’s billed under her real name Joan Brodel in this film, it’s only her second credited film role. TWO THOROUGHBREDS (1939) was her first important film role. Joan and her two sisters entered show business when their father lost his job, forming the stage act, The Brodel sisters.

Lydon remembered Leslie being sweet and professional, according to an interview in the book “The Women of Warner Bros.”

“Jack Hively was very easy with actors, so we had a real good time,” Lydon said.

TWO THOROUGHBREDS (1939) is a modest 62-minute movie. It’s sweet because I’m a sucker for a baby horse story. However, parts get frustrating, as Lydon’s character won’t simply fess up that he acquired the colt, because it came to his farm. He didn’t steal this horse! Arthur Hohl plays his usual dastardly character, and Marjorie Main plays a rare, harsh role – unlike her later comedic performances.

My only real complaint is that we never find out who the thieves are and they aren’t brought to justice. In light of the production code, this is odd since all criminals have to be punished.

The two young stars do well in the film that helped put their careers on the map. Unfortunately, I caught this film on Turner Classic Movies, and I’m uncertain where you can find it to watch.

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