KENTUCKY BLUE STREAK (1935) Edward J. Nugent & Patricia Scott | Action, Crime, Drama | B&W

Kentucky Blue Streak is a 1935 American film directed by Raymond K. Johnson and starring Edward J. Nugent, Frank Coghlan Jr. and Cornelius Keefe. The film's sets were designed by the art director Vin Taylor.

It was released in the United Kingdom under the alternative title The Blue Streak.

SYNOPSIS
A financially-troubled Kentucky horseracing family is threatened with disgrace when the jockey brother agrees to throw a race in San Francisco and then gets mixed in a murder investigation. Meanwhile, his sister plans to enter her horse in the Kentucky Derby. Her brother escapes from jail in order to ride it to victory.

Mary Bradley leaves her family's farm in Cloverdale, Kentucky to visit her brother Johnny, a jockey, in San Francisco. Their reunion is interrupted by Harry Johnson, who tries to convince Johnny to ride in the illegal race at the Pagona fair. After Mary and Johnny learn that the colt Mary brought to California to sell has broken a leg, Johnny agrees to go along with Harry's scheme. After Harry is shot, Johnny is arrested on the belief that he wanted to stop Harry from blackmailing him. Although he is innocent, Johnny agrees to a plea bargain under the alias Barnsdale so that he will not disgrace his family. A reporter, Marty Marion, who is investigating the racetrack rackets, helps Johnny obtain a work release. Meanwhile in Kentucky, Mary prepares to enter her horse, Blue Streak, in the Kentucky Derby. With the family farm already heavily mortgaged, Mary appeals to District Attorney Barton Pierce to pay the race entrance fee. Johnny reads about the approaching Derby and escapes prison to attend the race, but Marty has anticipated Johnny's reaction. In Kentucky, Marty gains admittance to a Derby ball, and when Barton sees Marty with Mary, he becomes jealous. Later, to increase his horse's odds, Barton spreads a rumor that Johnny will be his jockey for the Derby, but plans to have him arrested before the race begins. On the day of the race, Marty discovers Barton's scheme and is able to stop him. Johnny rides Blue Streak to a first-place finish, and Marty shows him a telegram sent from California.

CAST & CREW
Edward J. Nugent as Martin Marion
Frank Coghlan Jr. as Johnny Bradley
Patricia Scott as Mary Bradley
Cornelius Keefe as District Attorney Barton Pierce
Margaret Mann as Mrs. Martha Bradley
Roy D'Arcy as Harry Johnson
Ben Holmes as Bellhop O'Donnell
Roy Watson as Colonel Seymour
Harry Harvey as Barker/Voice of Radio Announcer
Roger Williams as Deputy
Joseph W. Girard as Warden Carlson
Walter Downing as Editor
Ben Carter as Waiter/Colored Octette leader
Jack Cheatham as Cop at Race Track

Directed by Raymond K. Johnson
Written by Rose Gordon, Edward O'Brien, Homer King Gordon
Produced by C.C. Burr
Cinematography Irvin Akers
Edited by Tony Martinelli
Music by Ben Carter, Lee Zahler
Production company C.C. Burr Productions
Distributed by Puritan Pictures
Release date May 1, 1935
Running time 60 minutes
Country United States
Language English