Polo with the Stars (1941) - full transcript

It's the sport of the stars.
They go in for pony ballets like this one.

And they're packed
with thrills and spills.

A way back B.C.,
a few hearty Persians...

...dreamed up a sort of
hockey on horseback.

And when the game
reached mysterious Tibet...

...they named it polo,
after their word for ball "pulu."

It takes plenty of training
to make a good polo pony.

Most of the animals are Western bred
and Western trained...

...though a number
come from South America.

A large drove of wild ponies
may produce only one or two real stars...

...but there's one in this Texas herd:
A young fellow named Pumpkin.



It seems a far cry
from cow punching to polo...

...but this is the way
Pumpkin starts going to school.

Kindergarten is in session,
with all the Western trimmings.

When our hero's been
broken to the saddle...

...he's in for a session of calf roping.

This'll teach him
to obey commands and handle himself...

...with the speed
and grace he'll need on a polo field.

It develops strong
and agile muscles too...

...as he backs off
to hold the steer until it's tied.

Pumpkin is destined
for Buddy Rogers' stables in Hollywood.

There, the job is all done.

For his higher education,
Pumpkin becomes a student...

...of one of America's foremost
trainers of polo ponies, Joey Blackwell.

First, the instructor must gain
the complete confidence of the pony...



...but that item doesn't seem
to be giving Blackwell trouble.

Here's a man
who really knows his oats.

After a preliminary maneuver which
resembles an old-fashioned waltz...

...he's taught the rudiments of turning
or reining. Looks easy but it isn't...

...because a pony's natural tendency
is to continually bear to the left.

So the trick lies in setting him right.

Now we get right down
to the serious business of polo itself.

That mallet may be a little frightening
at first, but after a few hours' practice...

...he doesn't the least bit mind having
it waved around in front of his face.

Riding off another player
is important in a polo game...

...and Pumpkin is given
a lesson in this department.

Notice how he's learning to crowd with
those wiry shoulders of his. Good boy.

Watch our hero getting himself
out of a tight spot...

...between two oncoming ponies.

And his rider takes
a good stroke at the ball in the bargain.

When Pumpkin graduates, he'll behave
like this member of Buddy Rogers' string.

He's Mazomenos, an Argentine pony.

He belongs to the aristocracy
of polo ponies and he knows it.

Joe Blackwell
sits astride Mazomenos...

...to demonstrate the right backstroke
and the right-forward stroke.

How'd you like to have
a mouth full of silver like this?

Jerky side shots
don't bother the pony...

...if the player remembers
not to follow through.

Some car dealers
who claim to stop on a dime...

...would turn green with envy
if they could see this. Nice going.

A few weeks of rigorous working out
and Pumpkin'll be able...

...to go through these maneuvers too.
There's plenty of spirit in this lad.

Notice he always lowers his head for an
abrupt turn, a sign of excellent training.

The slightest pressure on the rein,
the pony must respond immediately.

For the delay of a split second might
mean loss of a point or even the game.

Mazomenos takes to this treatment
like a duck to water...

...and he loses none of his agility
and fire in the heat of a real battle.

Talk about your whirling dervishes.

Mazomenos has a few ideas on the
subject and he proceeds to demonstrate.

And now into a spin.
Getting dizzy, Joe?

Okay, we'll take it slower
so you can draw a deep breath.

Observe that in spinning,
a pony pivots on his hind feet...

...while the forequarters
travel in a wide circle.

If you have this equipment and wanna
play polo, all you need is a horse.

The Thermos bottle, by the way,
isn't absolutely required.

Let's take a polo ball apart
and see what's inside.

Well, surprise.
Just more of the same stuff.

These are made of willow root found
only in India and weigh about 5 ounces.

For the benefit
of you croquet players...

...we might add that a polo ball is not
hit with the end of the mallet like this:

But with the side like this:

Breakfast at the stables.
And here comes the cereal.

Eat hearty, boys.

Now for that morning constitutional.

Pumpkin and his pals
must take their exercise every day...

...rain or shine,
whether they like it or not.

And then it's back to the stables
for a brisk rubdown...

...a beauty treatment that would make
any screen star envious.

And plenty of time
for a chat before lunch.

If it's the day of a game, there's always
the ritual of braiding the tail.

Hey, what's going on here?
Take it easy, that pulls.

This hairdo is designed for convenience
to allow free swing of the mallet...

...when he's making an especially
difficult shot around the stern.

Binding the pony's forefeet
prevents bruises.

The saddle completes the job.

Our friend Pumpkin
is all ready to go on the field.

Game time and players and spectators
come flocking through the gates...

...of the famous Riviera Country Club.

Here's Pumpkin's owner himself,
screen star Buddy Rogers.

Like every other sport,
polo has its own characteristic attire...

...from boots and shin guards
to the distinctive helmet.

All designed to protect players
from stray balls and mallets.

You will see plenty of famous faces
at every big game.

People like Jack Holden,
of the movies...

...and Snowy Baker, the renowned
Australian polo player and authority.

Tom Moore, star of the silent days...

...and Count Landi,
brother of screen star Elissa Landi.

Well, how about it buddy?
All set for the battle? Okay, let's go.

Now, which pony
shall we start with today?

Personally, if you ask our opinion,
we'll take Pumpkin.

And Pumpkin it is.

Here he comes,
along with his stablemates...

...ready for his first big game.

Like a number of players...

...Rogers prefers this special saddle
covered with sheepskin.

Now for a mallet
and we'll be all ready to go to work.

Just in case you hadn't noticed,
four players comprise a team.

The game's divided into eight periods, or
chuckers, seven-and-a-half minutes each.

The object of the game
is to drive the ball up the field...

...in between the opponent's goal posts,
each score counting one point.

All right. Get in and do your best.

Here we go. The referee
throws in the ball and they're off.

At first, it's just a hot scrimmage
in midfield...

...with both teams fighting it out
for an early advantage.

And then comes a flash of action
as a long, graceful sweep of a mallet...

...a telling shot, and alert ponies
wheel about to follow the play.

Pumpkin is certainly getting a taste
of polo that is polo on his first time out.

There goes the ball again. Flying hooves
come thundering down the field.

The ball zooms forward and back
as opposing teams...

...attempt to break through
the enemy defense for a tally.

A sudden rush,
a well-placed shot and it's good.

The ball rolls neatly
between the goal posts for a score.

Seven-and-a-half thrilling, dramatic
minutes and the first chucker is over.

Players ride off the field
to rest and get fresh ponies.

For no mount is used
in two successive periods...

...due to the intense strain of the play.

Instead,
these hard-working little animals...

...are taken in hand by the trainers
for a rubdown and liniment bath...

...that will keep their muscles
and tendons supple and limber.

Few athletes receive better treatment
than a polo pony.

Protected by coolers, the mounts walk
to the stables for a well-earned rest.

They've done their work
for the present.

Well, look who's here. We didn't know
Jack Oakie was a polo fan.

All right, Jack.
Help yourself to a hat and mallet...

...and give us a sample of your game.
Okay, Oakie, do your worst.

But hold on there. That polo ball
looks a little large for your game.

Why not start
on a golf ball and work up?

That's the idea.
No, no. The golf ball.

Fore.

Gangway up ahead.
This looks like a healthy drive.

Whoa, look at that.
Funny how small a golf ball can be.

Here we go into the second chucker.

There are a number of substitutions
among the players.

And from all reports,
we're in for some surprises.

There, the ball is hit.

Film star Edward G. Robinson's car
makes the score...

...one windshield to nothing.

Joe E. Brown has an idea.
Come on in, Eddie.

Fine thing. Who said
those balls only weigh 5 ounces?

Well, Joe,
you seem to be having a little trouble.

The idea is to stay in that saddle,
you know.

You and that horse
ought to get together.

Easy, Joe, easy. Or do you like
eating your meals off the mantelpiece?

All right, Eddie. Let's see
how many windshields you can hit.

Here's your chance.
The ball's coming your way.

Come on, Joe. Nice going.

Whoever said Eric Pedley
is the top polo man around here?

That ball
is getting nearer to the goal post.

What a game. Joe, you're doing all right.
We didn't think you had it in you.

We spoke too soon.

Looks like
it's going to be man overboard.

Hang on. Hang on, there.
That's better.

Now to get back into action.
Where's the ball?

Oh, there it is. Go after it, Joe.
Get in there and hit it.

No, no. That's no good. Try it again.
Come on, old boy, hit it.

Oh, too bad. You lost it after all.

Eddie is right in there.
Guard that goal, Joe.

Open your mouth.
Maybe that'll frighten them away.

The charge of the light brigade.
It's going to be too hot to handle.

No, Joe's taken it out of the air.
Keep hitting it, Joe.

Get ready Eddie,
your big moment is here.

Now, Joe. Just one good drive in there
and we'll have it.

It's all yours, Eddie.
It looks good. The game's over.