The Unwelcome Stranger
Cast & Crew
Phil Rosen
Jack Holt
Mona Barrie
Ralph Morgan
Jackie Searl
Bradley Page
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Howard W. Chamberlain, an orphan, is now the proprietor of racing stables and a lover of horses. At the County Orphanage for Boys, eleven-year-old Andy "Gimpy" Campbell, a handicapped boy, is never adopted. When Andy learns that the beloved old horse "Elmer" is to be destroyed, Andy persuades Jackson, the mechanic, to take the horse to the Chamberlain stables. Chamberlain's wife Madeleine likes Andy and persuades Chamberlain to keep Elmer in their stables. Andy becomes a regular visitor to the stables, and displays a talent for handling horses. Madeleine warns Andy not to mention that he is an orphan, because Chamberlain believes orphans are a jinx. When Charlie Anderson, Chamberlain's jockey, suggests that a handicapped person cannot ride a horse, Chamberlain's assistant, Mike Monahan, allows Andy to ride "Noma," a wild horse who has taken a liking to him. Since the arrival of Charlie and his bookie, Lucky Palmer, Chamberlain has suffered a losing streak, but does not realize that the two are fixing the races. When another adopted boy visits Andy, Chamberlain learns that Andy is an orphan and blames him for his bad luck. Chamberlain orders Andy away from the horses and turns down Madeleine's request to adopt the boy. Andy sneaks out late at night, but as he says goodbye to Noma, he is found by Mike, who asks him to remain with him. When "Bulldog," goes lame before an important race, Mike persuades Chamberlain to run Noma instead. Andy overhears Lucky and Charlie plot to throw the race and informs Mike. They guard Noma carefully and Mike has Charlie's license revoked just before the race. Without telling Chamberlain, Mike lets Andy jockey Noma. Andy and Noma are winning the race, when a rival jockey grabs Andy's bad leg and throws him from the horse, and they lose. The Chamberlains take Andy home and, after Chamberlain admits he was wrong about orphans, he and Madeleine promise to adopt Andy. Then Mike calls to say that the interference was observed and the winner disqualified, making Andy and Noma victors in the race.
Director
Phil Rosen
Cast
Jack Holt
Mona Barrie
Ralph Morgan
Jackie Searl
Bradley Page
Frankie Darro
Sam Mcdaniel
Frank Orth
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working title for this film was Gimpy. Pre-release news items in Daily Variety indicate that the film was also known as Stranger in His House and location shots were filmed in San Clemente, CA. The Hollywood Reporter review attributes the original story to Willard Mack, rather than William Jacobs, and the racing scenes were shot at Agua Caliente, CA.
