The Galloping Major

This Romulus Films Production from 1951 bears all the hallmarks of an Ealing comedy and stars Basil Radford (who also came up with the idea for the film) as a retired British Officer who has the bright idea of buying a racehorse, unfortunately, he purchases the wrong one…

In the quaint, tranquil (and fictional) London suburb of Lambs Green the community is a close-knit one – it’s a place where everyone knows everyone and everyone else’s business. After a day at the races with his pals (in fact, most inhabitants of Lambs Green are passionate about going to the races) retired British Officer Major Arthur Hill (Basil Radford) decides to acquire a horse himself, an idea met with delight by his teenage daughter Susan (Janette Scott) and other members of the community, including local bus driver Bill Collins (Jimmy Hanley), Harold Temple (Hugh Griffith), Maggie (Joyce Grenfell) who works at the greasy spoon café, local barber Mr. Leon (Sydney Tafler) and many others, including Charlie (Alfie Bass) who illegally peddles money for bets on horse races. Excited about the prospect of buying their very own race horse and better still, a horse that will make them profit by winning the races, the entire community buys shares worth 300 guineas and settles on a horse called ‘Montana Miss’, however, when the purchased horse is delivered it turns out the Major bought the wrong one. Worse still, ‘Father’s Folly’ is completely useless on the flat although the jockey reckons it might do well as a steeplechase horse.

Despite this huge setback the syndicate stick together and in order to save money (having already frittered away 300 guineas for the wrong horse) decide to train the horse themselves and eventually enter the animal as a jumper. They also decide to baptise the horse ‘The Galloping Major’. Naturally, nothing goes smoothly and when the day of the race looms little Susan sneaks out late at night to place a blanket over Galloping Major to keep him warm as the horse had come down with a spot of pneumonia some weeks prior. Unfortunately Susan fails to lock the stable door securely and the horse wanders off… first along Lambs Green High Street before trotting along country lanes and fields, finding its way into the courtyard of a film studio where a costume drama is being shot with director Rosedale (Kenneth More) giving instructions to his leading lady. When the horse is spotted by some of the crew-members it is ‘hired’ on the spot!

Meanwhile back in Lambs Green, the syndicate is excited over the prospect of entering the Galloping Major in the race but shock horror – WHERE is the horse? As a frantic search is underway and chances of finding the horse grow slimmer by the hour, Susan happens to spot an article in the newspaper about the new costume drama being filmed, with an accompanying photograph of the stars and… the Galloping Major (painted grey)! Now everyone is on the way to get the horse back but will they manage in time for the Grand National? More importantly: should they succeed then who will ride the horse?

This film has the most unlikely of happy endings which we won’t give away. It’s an enjoyable comedy romp featuring cameos by much-loved actors from that period including Sid James, Charles Hawtrey and Thora Hird as the ‘tea stall woman’.

THE GALLOPING MAJOR has been released in a new restoration on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.
Bonus Material includes: Locations featurette, ‘Betting of Success’ – Matthew Sweet on the film, Stills gallery.