Directed by John Rawlins, The Boy from Indiana is a modest but spirited sports drama that blends small-town charm with the high-stakes world of quarter-horse racing. Starring Lon McCallister, Lois Butler, Billie Burke, and George Cleveland, the film captures the optimism and grit of postwar youth chasing dreams across the American Southwest.
Plot Summary
Lon Decker (Lon McCallister) is a happy-go-lucky young man from Indiana who dreams of becoming a sportswriter. His journey takes him across the middle and southwestern United States, where he meets “Mac” Dougal (George Cleveland), a shrewd old horseman with a shady past. Mac owns Jo-Jo, a quarter horse with a mysterious pedigree and a knack for winning races—often under suspicious circumstances.
As Lon becomes entangled in Mac’s schemes, including a plan to hustle a wealthy rancher named Zelda Bagley (Billie Burke), he must decide whether to stick with the con or pursue a more honest path. When Jo-Jo is gored by a bull, the stakes rise: will the horse recover in time for the big race, and will Lon find his own footing in a world of fast horses and faster deals?
Cast Highlights
- Lon McCallister as Lon Decker
- Lois Butler as the love interest
- Billie Burke as Zelda Bagley
- George Cleveland as Mac Dougal
- Joyce Meadows in an early role
Production Notes & Trivia
- The film’s sets were designed by Lucius O. Croxton, known for his work on B-movie Westerns
- Though marketed as a horse-racing film, it’s more of a character-driven road story, with quarter-horse culture as the backdrop
- The story includes themes of deception, redemption, and rural Americana, typical of 1950s low-budget cinema
- Despite its title, the film is not about raising a colt, but rather about a young man’s journey through the racing circuit
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