Sweepstakes Winner (1939)

In the heartwarming tale of Sweepstakes Winner (1939), the narrative revolves around a young, innocent waitress, Jennie Jones, who hails from the humble town of Athens, Nebraska. Born into modest circumstances, Jennie finds herself awash in a sea of opportunity when she inherits $1,000 from her beloved grandfather. Her grandfather's final wish? To purchase a retired racehorse named Firefly, a majestic mare descended from a champion racehorse her grandfather once bred. Jennie, with an unwavering spirit and a heart full of good intentions, journeys to the bustling city. Her aim is to fulfill her grandfather's wish and provide Firefly with a life of grandeur she believes the horse deserves. To accomplish this, she naively aligns herself with two horse racing gamblers, "Tip" Bailey and "Jinx" Donovan, as suggested by her late grandfather. Unbeknownst to Jennie, Tip and Jinx are nothing more than crafty con artists, drowning in debt and greed. They see Jennie and her inherited fortune as their ticket out of penury. As her fortunes fluctuate, so do the cunning schemes of the gamblers, each more audacious than the last. Adding layers of complexity to this engaging tale are numerous intriguing characters. There's the devious horse owner, Pop Reynolds, a loyal jockey named Chalky Williams, and Jennie's smitten city-boss, Mark Downey, who is eager to prove his feelings are not swayed by her wealth. All the while, a winning sweepstakes ticket for the Grand National Lottery looms in the backdrop, offering a tantalizing promise of riches beyond imagination. Sweepstakes Winner is a captivating blend of innocence, deceit, and unexpected fortunes. It's a thrilling ride that demonstrates the transformative power of wealth and the enduring strength of a simple girl's determination.

Sweepstakes Winner is a comedy movie featuring Sam McDaniel.

Sweepstakes Winner is currently streaming on TCM.