My Brother Talks to Horses

1947 film by Fred Zinnemann

February 4, 1947 (1947-02-04)

Running time

92 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$1,436,000^[1]Box office$976,000^[1]

My Brother Talks to Horses is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Fred Zinnemann, starring Jackie "Butch" Jenkins, Peter Lawford, and Beverly Tyler.

Plot

Living with his family in Baltimore, 9-year-old Lewie Penrose (Butch Jenkins) claims that he can converse with horses, and also pick the winners of upcoming races. When it appears as though Lewie is telling the truth, he attracts the interest of gambler Rich Roeder (Charles Ruggles), who needs a "sure thing" in the upcoming Preakness Stakes. Meanwhile, Lewie's older brother John (Peter Lawford) carries on a romance with the lovely Martha (Beverly Tyler).^[2]

Cast

Jackie "Butch" Jenkins as Lewie Penrose
Peter Lawford as John S. Penrose
Beverly Tyler as Martha Sterling
Edward Arnold as Mr. Bledsoe
Charles Ruggles as Richard Pennington Roeder
Spring Byington as Mrs. 'Ma' Penrose
O.Z. Whitehead as Mr. Puddy
Paul Langton as Mr. Gillespie
Ernest Whitman as Mr. Mordecai
Irving Bacon as Mr. Piper
Lillian Yarbo as Psyche
Howard Freeman as Hector Damson
Harry Hayden as Mr. Gibley

Reception

The film was not a success at the box office, earning $733,000 in the US and Canada and $243,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $867,000.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ "My Brother Talks to Horses (1946) - Fred Zinnemann | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".