The Dixie Handicap

The Dixie Handicap
The Dixie Handicap
	Lobby card
Directed by	Reginald Barker
Written by	Waldemar Young
Based on	"Dixie"; by Gerald Beaumont
Produced by	Louis B. Mayer
Starring	Claire Windsor; Lloyd Hughes; Otis Harlan
Cinematography	Percy Hilburn (*French)
Edited by	Daniel J. Gray
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn Pictures
Release date	December 29, 1924;
Running time	7 reels
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)
Budget	$153,000
Box office	$447,000

The Dixie Handicap is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Reginald Barker. The film stars Claire Windsor, Lloyd Hughes, and Otis Harlan. It is written by Waldemar Young.^[2]

Plot

As described in a review in a film magazine,^[3] Judge Roberts (Keenan), greatly reduced in circumstances, hides his true financial condition from his daughter Virginia. He raises her in luxury by continuingly selling parts of his estate, until all he has left are his old home and his racing mare Southern Melody, who is about to have a colt. Through the carelessness of a stable boy, the mare wanders away and the colt is born in a rainstorm and nearly dies from exposure. When a wild cat attacks, the mare gives her life to save her colt. Dexter (St. Polis), trainer for a millionaire who owns an adjacent training stable, loves Virginia and tells her of her father's poverty. To counteract this, the Judge sells the colt and sends his daughter to Europe. The colt, now named Dixie, is badly injured in its first race, and, when it is about to be shot, Johnny Sheridan (Hughes) begs permission to try and save it. Virginia returns from Europe just as the great Dixie Handicap is to be run, in which the colt Dixie is entered. She learns that her father has sacrificed all and is now living in poverty. Dixie comes from behind and wins the race and a purse of $50,000. The estate is restored and Virginia, thoroughly chastened, agrees to marry Johnny, who has always loved her.

Cast

Claire Windsor as The Daughter, Virginia
Frank Keenan as The Racehorse Owner, Judge Roberts
Lloyd Hughes as The Hero, Johnny Sheridan
John St. Polis as Dexter (credited as Johnny Sainpolis)
Otis Harlan as The Old Retainer
Joseph Morrison as The Errant Groom
Otto Hoffman as The Major
Edward Martindel as Mr. Bosworth
Ruth King as Mrs. Bosworth
Billy Quirk as A Tout (credited as William Quirk)
James Quinn as A Tout
Loyal Underwood as Losing Jones
Bert Lindley as Conductor
William Orlamond as Sheriff
Milton Ross as Constable
J. P. Lockney as Milkman

Production

The race was filmed at the Latonia Race Track,^[3] formerly located at Covington, Kentucky. The character The Old Retainer, a humorous butler for the old house, is played by Otis Harlan in blackface.^[3] The use of blackface characters in Hollywood films did not decline until the 1940s when public sensibilities regarding race began to change and blackface became increasingly associated with racism and bigotry.^[4]

Preservation

With no prints of The Dixie Handicap located in any film archives,^[5] it is a lost film.

References

^ ^a ^b H. Mark Glancy, 'MGM Film Grosses, 1924-28: The Eddie Mannix Ledger', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 12 No. 2 1992 p127-144
^ Progressive Silent Film List: The Dixie Handicap at silentera.com
^ ^a ^b ^c Sewell, Charles S. (January 10, 1925). "The Dixie Handicap; Human Interest and Sympathy Rather than Heavy Melodrama in Entertaining Race Track Story". The Moving Picture World. 72 (2). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 138–139. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
^ Clark, Alexis. "How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism". History. A&E Television Networks, LLC. 2019.
^ The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Dixie Handicap

External links

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[mannix-1] H. Mark Glancy, 'MGM Film Grosses, 1924-28: The Eddie Mannix Ledger', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 12 No. 2 1992 p127-144

[2] Progressive Silent Film List: The Dixie Handicap at silentera.com

[MPBW-3] Sewell, Charles S. (January 10, 1925). "The Dixie Handicap; Human Interest and Sympathy Rather than Heavy Melodrama in Entertaining Race Track Story". The Moving Picture World. 72 (2). New York City: Chalmers Publishing Co.: 138–139. Retrieved July 10, 2021.

[4] Clark, Alexis. "How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism". History. A&E Television Networks, LLC. 2019.

[5] The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Dixie Handicap

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