Vagabond Luck (1919): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1919, Vagabond Luck is a comedy and drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap, running about 50 minutes.

What it’s about. When jockey Jimmie Driscoll, responsible for making Jim Richardson's horses winners, is fired for being too heavy, he goes to the home of the late Judge Bell, the father of local horse racing. Jimmy is in love with the Judge's daughter Joy, who was left nearly penniless when her father died. Joy's brother Harry writes to her pleading that because he desperately needs money, she should enter the aging Vagabond, the last of the Bell racehorses, in the upcoming annual event. Convinced by crooked bookmaker Spike Bradley that Vagabond will win at twenty-to-one odds, Harry mortgages his half of the house for gambling money. Jimmie discovers that although Vagabond runs horribly on normal turf, she is a "mudder," meaning that she goes into a wild dash on wet ground. After Jimmie and Joy pray for rain, Bradley, learning of Vagabond's condition, threatens the jockey, but Jimmie, riding Vagabond himself in in the rain, wins the race and afterward, Joy's love.

Who’s in it. Vagabond Luck stars Albert Ray as Jimmie Driscoll, Elinor Fair as Joy Bell, John Cossar as Jim Richardson and Lloyd Bacon as Buck, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, Vagabond Luck sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Vagabond Luck page.

If you liked it. Fans of Vagabond Luck tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.