| Racing Luck | |
| Director: | Rupert Kathner |
| Producer: | Rupert Kathner Alma Brooks (associate) |
| Starring: | Joe Valli George Lloyd |
| Cinematography: | Tasman Higgins |
| Studio: | Fanfare Films |
| Distributor: | British Empire Films |
| Runtime: | 66 mins |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
Racing Luck is a 1941 Australian comedy film directed by Rupert Kathner and starring Joe Valli, George Lloyd and Marshall Crosby.[1] The jockey Darby Munro, who had a cameo as himself, described it as the best Australian film he had ever seen.[1]
Two World War I veterans, Blue and Darkie, save an old race horse from being put down. Bluey restores it to healthy using potions used on camels during the war. The horse starts to win races but Darkie gets too excited, suffers a stroke and dies.
Rupert Kathner and his partner Alma Brooks set up a new company to make the movie, Fanfare Films. The film was shot in mid-1941 at a small studio in North Sydney. There were only a few location scenes, such as the flashback to a battle.
It was known during filming as For Services Rendered.[2]
Music was compiled from popular classics.[3]
The film had a minor release. The critic from The Australian Women's Weekly called it "one of the more amateurish local efforts" with "little entertainment value. Plot is trivial and jerkily developed, while the acting is at times painfully lame."[4] The Sydney Morning Herald said that the film:
Shows that decent support pictures could be produced here for very little money, compared with previous more expensive ones. They must, however, have better production and direction and a better story than Racing Luck.[5]
Kathner and his partner Alma Brooks were later charged with conspiracy to defraud by investors in Fanfare Films, but were acquitted.[6] They had earlier been accused taking money from someone who was not mentally competent.[7] [8]