Wild Boy (1934) Review - Mick the Miller is the real star

Is it worth a watch?

Honestly, you should only sit through this if you have a soft spot for classic British charm or if you really, really like dogs.

It’s a bit of a relic, but it’s got a heart that’s hard to stay mad at. If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, Wild Boy will probably bore you to tears within twenty minutes. 🐕

The whole movie basically exists as a vehicle for Mick the Miller. He was a real-life celebrity greyhound back then, and honestly, he has more screen presence than half the humans in the cast.

Sonnie Hale is here too, doing his usual high-energy thing. Sometimes he’s a bit too much, like he’s trying to perform for the back row of a theater that isn't there.

The Track Atmosphere

The racing scenes are actually the highlight for me. You can practically smell the damp grass and the cigarette smoke from the grandstands.

There is this one shot where the camera just lingers on the betting boards. It feels like it lasts for an eternity, but it gives you a real sense of how obsessed people were with the dogs back then.

It reminds me a bit of the quiet moments in The Sky Pilot, where the setting just kind of takes over the story for a minute.

The plot is... well, it’s thin. It’s about as deep as a saucer of milk, but it doesn't really matter because you’re just waiting for the next race anyway.

• The dog is very fast.
• The hats are very large.
• The accents are incredibly posh.

Some Weird Moments

There’s a scene where the dialogue gets so fast and mumbly I had to rewind it twice. I still don't know what that guy in the flat cap said, but he looked angry about it.

And the romance? It feels like it was added because someone told the writers they had to have it. Gwyneth Lloyd is fine, but she and Hale have the chemistry of a pair of damp socks.

It’s not quite as confusing as the mystery in The Amateur Detective, but it’s definitely not winning any awards for storytelling.

I noticed a weird continuity error where a character's tie changes color between shots. It’s the kind of small thing you only see if you’re really paying attention because the scene is dragging.

The music is also very loud. Like, unnecessarily loud during moments that aren't even that exciting.

But then Mick the Miller comes back on screen and you forgive it. That dog just looks so professional, like he knows exactly where his mark is.

If you've ever watched Mickey's Circus and thought you wanted something more British and with more gambling, this is your movie. 🐾

It’s a comfy, slightly dusty experience. Not a masterpiece, but a nice way to kill an afternoon if you’re in the right mood.

Just don't expect it to change your life. It's just a movie about a very good boy who runs very fast.