The Rocking Horse Winner

Fresh from his success in David Lean's "Oliver Twist", John Howard Davies skilfully takes on a rather different role in this engaging dark fantasy. He ("Paul") lives with his wastrel parents and debt is never far away. She, (Valerie Hobson), is a compulsive shopper and he (Hugh Sinclair) a compulsive gambler - neither are very good at their chosen profession! Luckily, it's usually kind uncle "Oscar" (Ronald Squire) who picks up the pieces, but even his is tiring of constantly bailing them out. Things start to look up after the they engage "Bassett" (John Mills) who befriends then provides his young master with a rocking horse in the attic. Mysteriously, when riding this wooden beast the youngster sees the future. He can tell which horse is going to win. He only tells his new friend who is initially sceptical, but with them soon having the huge sum of £1,200 in the kitty and his mother reduced to pawning her most treasured possessions, the pair have to find a way of getting the cash to her without her knowing - or becoming too reliant on it. To that end, they read in "Oscar" who overcomes his own scepticism and finds a way to keep his mother in a style she will appreciate. Of course, any gift comes with a cost and the young "Paul" finds himself constantly hearing calls from the very fabric of the house demanding more and more money. He rides and rides - but can never satiate it's needs. The Derby looms but the doctors have suggested the now emotionally exhausted boy stay in bed. One last hoorah? It takes a little while to get going but once the wheels of the story are in motion, there develops a strong chemistry between Mills and Davies and between him and an Hobson who gradually plays her way into the part quite effectively and all deliver a strong and quite poignant story. Never look a gift horse? Well, that would seem to apply here!