Stablemates offers Margaret Hamilton a meaty role costarring with Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney. The film, about a horse that needs doctoring, and a vet (Beery) that needs help, is routine. However, the way the horse and veterinary medicine is discussed and shown is quite superb.
The story is bolstered by heartfelt performances. Wallace Beery is not to be missed in an operation scene where his character craves one more sip of liquor. In fact, Beery (a real-life alcoholic) gives one of the most intelligent and most compassionate portrayals of his entire career. Despite the darker shades of his character, the movie falls perfectly in line with MGM's family films, given its ultimately redemptive ending.
The story is bolstered by heartfelt performances. Wallace Beery is not to be missed in an operation scene where his character craves one more sip of liquor. In fact, Beery (a real-life alcoholic) gives one of the most intelligent and most compassionate portrayals of his entire career. Despite the darker shades of his character, the movie falls perfectly in line with MGM's family films, given its ultimately redemptive ending.