This film focuses on the experiences of four sets of characters as they prepare for their big day at the Epsom Derby. Betty Molloy (Googie Withers) is having an affair with her lodger Tommy Dillon (John McCallum) but when her husband walks in on them unexpectedly he is accidentally killed - the frightened couple run off to the races to seek help. Lady Helen Forbes (Anna Neagle) has recently lost her husband but she insists on traveling to Epsom to see her husband's horse Starry Knight run in the Derby. Fleet Street cartoonist David Scott (Michael Wilding) has also recently lost his partner and he is assigned by his editor to travel to the races to capture some sketches. Finally film star Gerald Berkeley (Peter Graves) has to attend the races with the winner of a raffle for his company but he is pleasantly surprised when the winner's house maid Michelle Jolivet (Suzanne Cloutier) turns up instead. Inevitably the stories of the four sets of characters intertwine as the day develops.  

This film has a lovely opening sequence with background commentary setting the scene for the big day and mentions that half a million people will be attending the Epsom Derby and that this is a story about a half dozen of those people. This was supposed to be a revival film for the fortunes of Anna Neagle and Michael Wilding and there was lots of publicity surrounding the release with Anna even attending the Derby in 1952. However I found their characters in the film quite dull and the story linking them together with a glimmer of romance rather boring. On the other hand Suzanne Cloutier and Peter Graves were far more entertaining in their roles as Michelle Jolivet and Gerald Berkeley and I love the scenes where the two of them visit the Epsom fairground. The story featuring Googie Withers and John McCallum as the lovers who are on the run was average but their acting was very good. I particularly like the course radio commentator in the film who gives some splendid descriptions of the day - "the broad bright green ribbon of the track, crisply outlined by the white rails against the sweeping stately background of the downs."
    
The Epsom crowd and racing scenes have been taken straight from the Pathe newsreel covering the 1951 Derby (available on You Tube) although the actual finish of the race in the film was taken from the 1949 Pathe Newsreel. The 1951 Derby was won by Arctic Prince who was six lengths clear of his nearest rival and the 1949 Derby winner was Nimbus who won by a short head in a three way go - much more suitable for the film's purposes. Either way the character scenes and the newsreel footage with all the crowds, horses, funfair, buses and bookmakers blend beautifully to portray the excitement and hustle and bustle surrounding Epsom Derby day.

All in all a great study of a 1950s Epsom Derby but I just found the story lines linking all the characters a bit weak and you are probably better off just watching the 1951 Pathe Newsreel on You Tube. (Rating 6/10)