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Equine Movies

by Philip Holthaus

Most children dream about owning a pony or horse. Here are some great videos that tap into this powerful fantasy:

• My Friend Flicka (1943): The story concerns an imaginative boy (Roddy McDowall) who loves and tames a rebellious colt, much to the surprise of the stern father who misunderstands both son and horse. Beautifully filmed in color.

• Misty (1961): A wonderful tale about a boy and a girl living on an island off the coast of Virginia who befriend a wild horse. Based on the popular Marquerite Henry book, and filmed in Cinemascope.

• The Red Pony (1949; 1973): Both versions offer tasteful adaptations of Steinbeck's classic novella about a boy who bonds with a horse to escape his family's constant bickering. The earlier movie version, written by Steinbeck himself, directed by the great Lewis Milestone, and graced by its Aaron Copeland score, is available on video. The newer version, made for TV, is not yet on video but occasionally runs on TV; it features a great performance by Henry Fonda as the boy's father and won a Peabody Award for outstanding drama special.

• The Black Stallion (1979): A truly magical film that is a feast for the eye and the soul. In the movie's first half, a boy and a horse are shipwrecked on a desert isle, bond, and have many adventures; in the second half, they are rescued, train as jockey and racehorse, and then compete for a racing championship.

• Black Beauty (1994): Based on Anna Sewall's children's classic, this film offers the life history of a Victorian-era horse. The horse himself endearingly relates his own story about ups-and-downs with a series of masters. Earlier versions (1946 and 1971) also have their charms.

All these films are rated "G" (or would have been if made today). The Black Stallion runs 120 minutes; the others run 90 minutes or so.

Equine Adventures is part of the Mostly Animals Family Film Festival. Check it out for more comedies and dramas starring animals -- animated, fantastic, and real. All recommended films are available on video cassette.