Flying 55

Based upon a novel by Edgar Wallace, this 1939 b/w adaptation fuses blackmail and other dodgy doings with the thrill of the horseracing world.

To put it upfront, it’s just as well the horse race scenes provide some excitement, as otherwise the admittedly well-acted story trots along in a rather slow pace.
Bill Urquhart (Derrick De Marney) is a youngish good-for-nothing, disinherited by his father. If there is one passion and talent the workshy lad possesses, it’s a job as a jockey. Suffice to say, he’s not exactly successful in landing his dream job, thanks due a less than impressive track record… There’s also the issue of blackmail and a bounced cheque.

Fate takes a turn when, after adopting an alias, he prevails upon the charity of a friend. The two get plastered during a drunken night out, and it is through his friend that Bill makes the acquaintance of pretty Stella Barrington (Nancy Burne).
You might guess what’s coming next: yes, she inherited the racing stables of her dad Charles (Marius Goring), which is a good thing, as Bill and Stella become attracted to each other. So he takes on the job of stable lad to be close to her, still operating under his alias. Unfortunately, Stella also inherited her dad’s debts…

While trying to help her out, and her dad by settling a gambling debt, Bill makes his next acquaintance: a wild horse named Flying 55, which eventually gets tamed. Now our anti-hero finally turns jockey and enters the horse into the race in the hope to win, so he can get the girl, his dad’s respect, and get the girl’s dad out of trouble. Himself as well, of course, for Bill can’t operate under an alias for the rest of his life. But things are never as straightforward in life, especially not in a movie based on an Edgar Wallace story. Some unpleasant individuals try everything to ensure that Flying 55 loses…

Flying 55 is featured on the DVD in a brand-new transfer from original film elements, and is showcased in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio.