The Great Mike

"The Great Mike" is passable entertainment at best. What was once conceived as a family B-movie is today rather heavy-handed and silly. In fact, the only reason you might want to see it is to see how far and quickly Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer had fallen soon after his glory days in the Our Gang comedies. Here, he's given a terrible part--a dim-witted sidekick to a much younger and not particularly talented kid. From what I have read about the real-life Switzer, it was clearly a case of karma!

The film concerns a boy named Jimmy. Despite the IMDb summary, the film is all about him and HIS horse--not Speck (Switzer). Jimmy adores his horse and believes in him. And, although he's just a horse, it turns out he can run with the best of them and is a racehorse at heart. Can Jimmy and his nag save the farm and keep the family from bankruptcy? What do you think?!?!

The plot and writing are not particularly good--and a bit sticky at times. In many ways, it's the sort of production that might have worked in the old days but now it just seems third-rate and completely predictable and silly. Not worth your time unless you are a die-hard Alfalfa fan!

Arcadia, California paperboy Robert "Buzzy" Henry (as Jimmy Dolan) and his swell teen pal Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer (as "Speck") use the former's beloved horse "Mike" to deliver the news. Young Henry is saving up to get the local lads a proper clubhouse, with "a shower bath, ping pong tables, and weenie roast." He also wants to run "Mike" in the new racetrack being built at Santa Anita. Henry meets horse breeder Pierre Watkin (as Col. Whitley) and trainer Stuart Erwin (as Jay Spencer). When "Mike" shows potential as a real racehorse, the men buy him from Henry's uncle Joe, who is strapped for cash. Separated, Henry and "Mike" are devastated. Can you figure out how to get this boy and horse back on track?

**** The Great Mike (11/15/44) Wallace Fox ~ Robert 'Buzz' Henry, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Stuart Erwin, Pierre Watkin

Just the most manipulative piece of sludge you will ever get to see, 'The Great Mike' deals with a boy (Timmy) and his horse (and dog).. Trainers realize that his horse, which was used to help Timmy with his paper route would make a good race horse, and Timmy agrees! But wait! His uncle, who gave Timmy the horse in the first place, has to settle his debts! He wants to sell the horse! Oh no! Timmy cries to his Mom! What will they do? Well, uh, that's not the plot. You see, that plot is settled within the first half of the movie (and actually the plot doesn't kick in for 15 mins or so), and then they deal with a would be shady jockey, but then that plot is settled, and then there's the Big Race! And then there's another Big Race! This movie is a mess, it's about as bad as a movie like this could be (not all the animals in the movie survive! Poor Timmy!!). Featuring the kid who plays Alfafa in the Our Gang comedies who does nothing but say "Gee willackers!" at everything Tommy says.

I just a rather badly butchered version of The Great Mike, a film with a horse racing setting and it's about young Buzz Henry and his dog Corky and his horse Mike which he uses to drive a cart to deliver newspapers.

But the horse is a thoroughbred which was gotten rid of in a fire sale so to speak and has never run. The Great Mike shows his stuff one day against some race horses and it's enough to impress trainer Stu Erwin and owner Pierre Watkin. They take an interest in the horse, the boy, and of course the dog which is a beloved stablemate of the horse. In fact the horse grieves when the dog's not around and that's a big part of the plot of this film.

It's a PRC release and done on the cheap, the production values are nil. But it is a sincere film, all the clichés that one expects in these films are here. But I happen to be a sucker for films with a racetrack setting and we do get to see Santa Anita in its early years.

This is one of several movies Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer made after leaving Our Gang. He's a tall teen in this one, a friend to a young boy named Jimmy (Robert "Buzz" Henry). Jimmy has a horse named Mike and he believes Mike can win horse races. Stuart Erwin plays someone who actually believes in Jimmy's dream and plays a big part in helping him realizing it. I'll stop there and just say I liked the drama that permeated throughout the narrative. Lots of things happen, including a couple of horse races, and while some if it may be predictable, it doesn't make it any less enjoyable. Only complaints I have is some of the scenes seemed to end abruptly but that may have been because the print I watched was clumsily spliced. Anyway, if you don't mind something heartwarming if a bit corny for an hour and 13 minutes, The Great Mike should be right up your alley!