Poor Freddie Bartholomew. Yes, he was given some wonderful, indelible roles during his youth, but he was prevented from getting more parts when he was in his prime because his aunt had contract disputes with the studio. He was supposed to be in Thoroughbreds Don't Cry with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, but because of one of the disputes, he was replaced by Ronald Sinclair. Little Ronald did an excellent job, and he gave so fine a Freddie Bartholomew impersonation, that if you close your eyes, you can almost pretend the original choice did make it in the movie!
This really isn't that great a movie, though, so perhaps Freddie didn't miss out too much. Poor Ronald didn't take his place in audiences' hearts, even though there was nothing wrong with his looks or talent, and he only made a few more movies after this one before turning to the backstage side of Hollywood. The plot of the movie is an obvious follow-up to The Devil Is a Sissy, where a young British boy comes to America and tries to fit in and learn American slang and customs. Ronald comes to this country with his grandfather, C. Aubrey Smith-who would have once again been reunited with Freddie after Little Lord Fauntleroy-and his family's racehorse. Mickey Rooney is a hothead jockey they both woo into riding their horse in the next race, and Judy Garland is a nondescript girl with very little character development who spends far more time than is funny making fun of Ronald's accent and way of talking. Unless you really love Mickey and Judy, you might want to pick out a different horseracing movie. It doesn't stand the test of time very well, and the storyline is pretty thin and predictable.
This really isn't that great a movie, though, so perhaps Freddie didn't miss out too much. Poor Ronald didn't take his place in audiences' hearts, even though there was nothing wrong with his looks or talent, and he only made a few more movies after this one before turning to the backstage side of Hollywood. The plot of the movie is an obvious follow-up to The Devil Is a Sissy, where a young British boy comes to America and tries to fit in and learn American slang and customs. Ronald comes to this country with his grandfather, C. Aubrey Smith-who would have once again been reunited with Freddie after Little Lord Fauntleroy-and his family's racehorse. Mickey Rooney is a hothead jockey they both woo into riding their horse in the next race, and Judy Garland is a nondescript girl with very little character development who spends far more time than is funny making fun of Ronald's accent and way of talking. Unless you really love Mickey and Judy, you might want to pick out a different horseracing movie. It doesn't stand the test of time very well, and the storyline is pretty thin and predictable.