Role: Floyd Garden
Film Presence: Small
Role Type: Broody, Quiet, Athletic...Suicidal???
Film Information and Summary: IMDb, TCM, Wikipedia
Release Date: February 21, 1936
Douglas Walton's role as Floyd Garden
At a horse race for "gentlemen" riders, a table party was hosted by millionaire Lowe Hammle (played by Gene Lockhart) at his box. Among the group include Zalia Graem (played by Virginia Bruce), Woode Swift (played by Kent Smith), Major Fenwicke-Ralston (played by H. B. Warner) and his much younger wife Madge Fenwicke-Ralston (played by Frieda Inescort), and jockey Floyd Garden (Douglas Walton) who was slouching on the chair quietly with eyes towards the ground. Garden was set to ride on a horse provided by The Major called Risky Lad. The diners questioned about Garden's somber temperament. Zalia made a joke that Garden looked like The Thinker statue by Rodin. Madge was especially concerned for the jockey. Philo Vance (played by Edmund Lowe) came into the middle of the party. One of the diners mentioned that Garden was usually the talkative type and they don't know what has gotten him to be so gloomy. Woode told him to cheer up, but Garden responded, "Leave me alone," in a slurred manner with eyes rolled upwards as if he's in a trance. Caring deeply for Garden, Madge wanted everyone at the table to give him some space. The Major had confidence that Garden will ride well in the race despite his current emotional state. The voice announcer called to all riders to go to their stations. Garden stood up and walked away in a zombie-like state as he said, "I've got to ride...I've got to...break my neck." The group at the table were shocked and appalled on what he said.
Madge ran up to a quiet and morose Garden as he was about to mount his horse. She warned him not to ride and that she didn't want any harm to fall upon him in the race. For the most part he was quiet as he reiterated, "I've got to ride." Garden was obviously not mentally sound. Madge urged him not to ride with no avail.
Before the race was about to begin, there were foreboding signs that the race will not end well for Garden. He could not control his horse Risky Lad as it scampered at random intervals. Nevertheless, the blank-faced Garden didn't say a word.
At the start of the race, all the horses ran the track and leaped over hurdles. Garden rode his horse with focused concentration. The race was intense. Madge was still concerned but the crowd cheered, and Garden was still riding. All seemed to be going well and Madge had a glimmer of hope. Then all came to a full stop when his horse tumbled on one of the hurdles. The horse violently fell on its back, landing on Garden who was battered to the dirt. The audience were shocked at the sight. Philo Vance and a group of men ran towards Garden. Philo held the limp Garden who feebly said, "I've got to fall...I've got to break my..." He did not finish, and he died as his neck slumped loosely.
Everyone thought it was a suicide, but Zalia knew it wasn't Garden's personality to do such a thing. Philo Vance investigated.
Garden's father (played by Henry B. Walthall) was so distraught by his son's death that he collapsed and fainted. As he came back to consciousness, he believed Lowe Hammle killed his son. He went on to describe how Hammle convinced Floyd Garden to quit his good job in order to become a "waster and a good for nothing" that gets fast horses, fast women, and lots of money.
In the end, it was revealed that The Major Fenwicke-Ralston hypnotized Garden to commit suicide. He did this because his much younger wife Madge was having a sexual affair with Garden (that is why she was so caring towards him). Police came in and shot the culprit dead.
Watch Douglas Walton's scenes in this video clip:
A role with very little dialogue but I did enjoyed Douglas Walton's horse racing scene. There's a sense of adrenaline and trepidation that came out of it. I also thought it was interesting to see Walton in a sporty role, albeit he was quiet for most of the time. Other roles where he did some type of sport include "Looking Forward" (1933) and "Raffles" (1939).
Release Date: February 21, 1936
Douglas Walton's role as Floyd Garden
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| Douglas Walton in "The Garden Murder Case" (1936). I've got to ride...I've got to...break my neck. |
At a horse race for "gentlemen" riders, a table party was hosted by millionaire Lowe Hammle (played by Gene Lockhart) at his box. Among the group include Zalia Graem (played by Virginia Bruce), Woode Swift (played by Kent Smith), Major Fenwicke-Ralston (played by H. B. Warner) and his much younger wife Madge Fenwicke-Ralston (played by Frieda Inescort), and jockey Floyd Garden (Douglas Walton) who was slouching on the chair quietly with eyes towards the ground. Garden was set to ride on a horse provided by The Major called Risky Lad. The diners questioned about Garden's somber temperament. Zalia made a joke that Garden looked like The Thinker statue by Rodin. Madge was especially concerned for the jockey. Philo Vance (played by Edmund Lowe) came into the middle of the party. One of the diners mentioned that Garden was usually the talkative type and they don't know what has gotten him to be so gloomy. Woode told him to cheer up, but Garden responded, "Leave me alone," in a slurred manner with eyes rolled upwards as if he's in a trance. Caring deeply for Garden, Madge wanted everyone at the table to give him some space. The Major had confidence that Garden will ride well in the race despite his current emotional state. The voice announcer called to all riders to go to their stations. Garden stood up and walked away in a zombie-like state as he said, "I've got to ride...I've got to...break my neck." The group at the table were shocked and appalled on what he said.
 |
| A broody Douglas Walton in "The Garden Murder Case" (1936). |
Madge ran up to a quiet and morose Garden as he was about to mount his horse. She warned him not to ride and that she didn't want any harm to fall upon him in the race. For the most part he was quiet as he reiterated, "I've got to ride." Garden was obviously not mentally sound. Madge urged him not to ride with no avail.
 |
| Frieda Inescort urged Douglas Walton not to ride in the race in "The Garden Murder Case" (1936). "I beg you! You owe me 'something' after!" Hmmm. |
Before the race was about to begin, there were foreboding signs that the race will not end well for Garden. He could not control his horse Risky Lad as it scampered at random intervals. Nevertheless, the blank-faced Garden didn't say a word.
At the start of the race, all the horses ran the track and leaped over hurdles. Garden rode his horse with focused concentration. The race was intense. Madge was still concerned but the crowd cheered, and Garden was still riding. All seemed to be going well and Madge had a glimmer of hope. Then all came to a full stop when his horse tumbled on one of the hurdles. The horse violently fell on its back, landing on Garden who was battered to the dirt. The audience were shocked at the sight. Philo Vance and a group of men ran towards Garden. Philo held the limp Garden who feebly said, "I've got to fall...I've got to break my..." He did not finish, and he died as his neck slumped loosely.
 |
| Edmund Lowe held a dying Douglas Walton in "The Garden Murder Case" (1936). I've got to fall...I've got to break my....(neck) |
Everyone thought it was a suicide, but Zalia knew it wasn't Garden's personality to do such a thing. Philo Vance investigated.
Garden's father (played by Henry B. Walthall) was so distraught by his son's death that he collapsed and fainted. As he came back to consciousness, he believed Lowe Hammle killed his son. He went on to describe how Hammle convinced Floyd Garden to quit his good job in order to become a "waster and a good for nothing" that gets fast horses, fast women, and lots of money.
In the end, it was revealed that The Major Fenwicke-Ralston hypnotized Garden to commit suicide. He did this because his much younger wife Madge was having a sexual affair with Garden (that is why she was so caring towards him). Police came in and shot the culprit dead.
Watch Douglas Walton's scenes in this video clip:
A role with very little dialogue but I did enjoyed Douglas Walton's horse racing scene. There's a sense of adrenaline and trepidation that came out of it. I also thought it was interesting to see Walton in a sporty role, albeit he was quiet for most of the time. Other roles where he did some type of sport include "Looking Forward" (1933) and "Raffles" (1939).
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