National Velvet (1944)

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

Enid Bagnold (novel)
Theodore Reeves (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

26 January 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Simple Story Of A Boy . . . A Girl . . . And A Horse! Set to the thunder of the Grand National Steeplechase!

Plot:

A jaded former jockey helps a young girl prepare a wild but gifted horse for England's Grand National Sweepstakes.

Plot Keywords:

Horse | England | Jockey | Raffle | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	Mi Taylor
Donald Crisp	...	Mr. Brown
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Velvet Brown
Anne Revere	...	Mrs. Brown
Angela Lansbury	...	Edwina Brown
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins	...	Donald Brown (as Jackie Jenkins)
Juanita Quigley	...	Malvolia Brown
Arthur Treacher	...	Race Patron
Reginald Owen	...	Farmer Ede
Norma Varden	...	Miss Sims
Terry Kilburn	...	Ted
Arthur Shields	...	Mr. Hallam
Aubrey Mather	...	Entry Official
Alec Craig	...	Tim
Eugene Loring	...	I. Taski

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | USA:Approved (certificate #10321) | Germany:6 | Germany:o.Al. (DVD rating) | Australia:G | Canada:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Future British MP Baroness Shirley Williams auditioned for the Velvet Brown role.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Mr. Brown, a butcher who should know better, authoritatively announces that one small-to-medium-sized lobster will provide a family dinner for six: A claw apiece for he and his wife, the entire tail (the meatiest part of the crustacean) for his picky young son who's a finicky eater and what's "in-between" (basically all of it’s inedible entrails) for his three teenage daughters - with some left over for the dog! In reality, a lobster of that size would hardly feed one hungry person.

Quotes:

Velvet Brown: Who's been in my box?
Donald Brown: Me.
Edwina Brown: [correcting him] "I."
Donald Brown: You, too?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Who Killed 'Winter Kills'? (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Teddy Bears' Picnic

One of the Best Family Films Ever

This is the first movie I ever owned on video, and 14 years later, I still have the same copy. Elizabeth Taylor was as radiant at twelve as ever later in life, Mickey Rooney gave real dimension to Mi Taylor, and Donald Crisp was solid as ever as Mr. Brown. The amazing Anne Revere, as Mrs. Brown, seemed to be the wisest woman in the world. After nearly 60 years, the warmth, humor, and excitement of this film still affect the viewer; we still laugh at the jokes, root for The Pie, and love Velvet for the spirit and capacity for love that she displays. I love it as an adult just as I loved it as a child. A must for every family video collection.