The Day the Bookies Wept (1939)

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Zany radio comedian Joe Penner delivers one of his best (and most believable) screen performances in the Runyonesque comedy The Day the Bookies Wept. Penner stars as Ernest, the trainer of a broken-down racehorse named Hiccup. It seems that the nag turns into a potential champion whenever he's… More Zany radio comedian Joe Penner delivers one of his best (and most believable) screen performances in the Runyonesque comedy The Day the Bookies Wept. Penner stars as Ernest, the trainer of a broken-down racehorse named Hiccup. It seems that the nag turns into a potential champion whenever he's promised a bucketful of beer. Poor Ernest remains ignorant of this, but Hiccup manages to locate enough brewski on his own to win the inevitable Big Race. Betty Grable, still a year or so away from full stardom, is an appealing heroine in this likeable contrivance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi