Little Johnny Jones (1929) - A Creaky, Weird Horse Racing Relic

Is this movie worth your time today? Only if you are a total nerd for early talkies or you want to see where the famous Yankee Doodle songs actually came from before Cagney made them legendary. If you want a fast-paced sports movie, stay far away from this one. It's slow, the sound is rough, and the acting feels like everyone is shouting at a wall.

I sat down with this because I was curious about Edward Buzzell. He’s the lead guy, playing Johnny, and he doesn’t really look like a jockey to me. He looks more like a guy who sells insurance but somehow ended up on a horse.

The story kicks off with Johnny heading to England to win the Derby. It’s all very polite and stiff. You can almost feel the movie trying to convince you this moment matters when he says goodbye to his girl. 🐎

The sound quality is... well, it’s 1929. There’s this constant hiss in the background that sounds like someone is frying bacon in the next room. It makes the emotional scenes feel a bit less emotional and more like a radio broadcast from a submarine.

One reaction shot of Alice Day lingers so long it becomes funny. She just stares into the distance for what feels like five minutes while Johnny talks about his reputation. I think she might have forgotten her line, or maybe the director just liked her hat.

Speaking of hats, the costumes are the best part. Everyone is wearing these massive coats and tilted caps. It looks like a very expensive laundry day.

The middle part of the movie drags. Johnny gets accused of throwing a race, which is a classic trope. It reminds me a bit of the drama in Racing Through, but with way more talking and less actual racing.

There is a scene on a boat that goes on about 20 seconds too long, and the silence starts to feel awkward rather than emotional. You can see the actors waiting for the cue to move. It’s those little cracks in the production that I actually find charming.

I noticed Wheeler Oakman playing the guy who tries to ruin Johnny. He has this very specific way of narrowing his eyes that makes him look like he’s trying to read a menu from across the street. He’s a great villain for this kind of thing, very theatrical.

The crowd scenes have this oddly empty feeling, like half the extras wandered off to get lunch. You’d think the English Derby would be packed, but it looks like a small gathering at a park. 🌳

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Little Johnny Jones (1929) through its definitive frames.

I kept thinking about Alias Jimmy Valentine while watching the indoor scenes. Both movies have that weird stage-bound feel where you can tell the walls are just painted plywood. It gives the whole thing a claustrophobic vibe.

There’s a moment where Johnny sings, and it’s not what you expect if you’ve seen the later remakes. It’s much more subdued. It feels like he’s singing to himself in a shower, not performing for a crowd.

The pacing is allmost non-existent. It’s just a series of rooms where people stand and talk about things that happened off-screen. Then suddenly, we get a shot of a horse. It’s very high burstiness in terms of how the information is dumped on you.

I liked the way they handled the mystery element, though. It’s not complicated, but it’s honest. It doesn't try to be smarter than it is. It’s a lot like The Road to Ruin in how it delivers a very clear message about being a good person.

One thing that really bothered me was the lighting. In some scenes, Johnny’s face is half in shadow for no reason. Maybe the bulb burnt out? Or maybe it was art. I’m guessing it was just a mistake.

If you’ve seen The IX Olympiad in Amsterdam, you know how exciting real sports footage from this era can look. This movie tries to copy that energy during the race scenes, but it feels much more controlled and fake.

I did appreciate the ending, even if it was predictable. There’s a certain comfort in knowing exactly how a 1929 movie is going to wrap up. The hero wins, the girl is happy, and the music swells (with a lot of static).

I wouldn't call this a masterpiece. It’s more like a dusty old postcard you find in an attic. It’s interesting because of its age, not necessarily because of its quality.

The movie gets noticeably better once it stops taking itself seriously near the end. There’s a bit of humor that finally lands. I wish they had leaned into that more from the start.

Anyway, it’s a weird one. Watch it if you’re bored and want to see some vintage horses. Otherwise, you can probably skip it and not miss much. 🏇