Back home

Salty O'Rourke

8 votes

Producing House

A gambler and his buddy find a wise-guy jockey for their long-shot horse.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1945-03-22

Runtime: 100 mins

Director: Raoul Walsh

Spoken language: English

Genres: Drama

Original title: Salty O'Rourke

Production Companies: Paramount Pictures

Production Countries: United States of America

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
The suit he wears and the part he plays are just too big for a lacklustre Alan Ladd in this caper, but it is rescued to an extent by a lively effort from Stanley Clements as his wide-boy jockey “Johnny”. “Salty” (Ladd) is in hock to his bookie “Baxter” (Bruce Cabot) for twenty big ones, and with only thirty days to settle up, he’s in desperate straits. He does, however, have an horse and a best pal/trainer “Smitty” (William Demarest) and so all he needs is a light-weight lad to steer their way across the winning line. Initially, the already banned young “Johnny” is up for the task - he likes the sound of the $13,000 he will get for winning, but he’s a recalcitrant kid who rebels by nature. That comes to an head when they tell him he has to go to school. He hates that idea, sasses the teacher (Gail Russell) and is promptly expelled. It falls to “Salty” to get him reinstated and that’s when he meets the teacher and swiftly wants more than an apple. So does “Johnny”. A love triangle, develops, but let’s just say it isn’t equilateral - and that leaves “Salty” vulnerable to the scheming “Baxter” making the impressionable young man a counter-offer. Who will prevail? This is quite a good story with a decent scenario underpinning it, but why on earth did anyone cast Alan Ladd in any role other than the back end of the horse? He brings little charisma to the film and even less to the rapport with the equally unimpressive Russell who rather earnestly out-whinnies the horses (that we very rarely see). The conclusion is rushed and it has a certain clinical brutality to it that made me dislike the leading couple even more. It doesn’t hang around and when Clements is doing his best Mickey Rooney it works well. Otherwise, it’s a flat race rather than a hurdle.
2025-07-23

Recommendations

Seabiscuit
3.5

Seabiscuit

2003-07-22

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of

Phar Lap
3.6

Phar Lap

1983-08-11

Phar Lap, the big bold chestnut reigned as the king of the turf in the depression that gripped Austr

The Fall
0

The Fall

2021-07-10

Tom has faced many rivals in his ten-year career as a jump Jockey. Some have been faster, stronger,

County Fair
3

County Fair

1937-11-24

Racetrack drama about a young jockey accused of drugging his horse.

The Gentleman from Louisiana
0

The Gentleman from Louisiana

1936-08-14

In Victorian-era USA, a horse-jockey becomes a scapegoat in the nefarious schemes of a group of smal

Ride Like a Girl
3.6

Ride Like a Girl

2019-09-26

The story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

Wall of Noise
1.6

Wall of Noise

1963-09-04

The lives and loves behind the scenes at the racetrack are detailed in this thoroughbred soap opera.

You Can't Buy Luck
2

You Can't Buy Luck

1937-04-30

When a gambler is accused of murder, the pretty orphanage employee he loves sets out to prove him in

Little Johnny Jones
0

Little Johnny Jones

1929-11-17

Little Johnny Jones is a jockey who is in love with his all-American sweetheart, Mary Baker, and als

National Velvet
3.6

National Velvet

1945-01-26

Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside hom

Under My Skin
3

Under My Skin

1950-03-17

After defying a gangster in Italy, American jockey Danny Arnold flees race-fixing accusations and es

Ride, Kelly, Ride
0

Ride, Kelly, Ride

1941-02-07

A jockey struggles against gamblers with the help of the stable trainer and horse owner's daughter.

Garrison's Finish
0

Garrison's Finish

1914-10-15

Billy Garrison, a successful young jockey, rides the favorite "Sis" in the Louisville Derby. He does

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
2.9

Thoroughbreds Don't Cry

1937-11-25

Cricket West is a hopeful actress with a plan and a pair of vocal chords that bring down the house.

The Cup
2.7

The Cup

2011-11-13

At the heart of this true story is Damien Oliver, a young jockey who loses his only brother in a tra

Garrison's Finish
0

Garrison's Finish

1923-01-15

Billy Garrison, a jockey, is framed and suspended for throwing a face. Depressed, he goes to a bar a

Black Beauty
0

Black Beauty

1933-04-01

Black Beauty is being trained to run in the steeplechase race, upon which the Cameron family has sta

The Story of Seabiscuit
2.9

The Story of Seabiscuit

1949-11-12

Horse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece, Margaret, come to America to escape the memory of a

Heart of Virginia
0

Heart of Virginia

1948-04-25

Jimmy Easter is a jockey who gets shook up when he is responsible for the death of a fellow rider du

Fast Companions
3

Fast Companions

1932-06-22

A crooked jockey tries to reform.