By Laurie Parks
So here we are rolling into March. For us that live in Camden, and the bigger picture Kershaw County, that means gearing up for the Carolina Cup. This is a South Carolina tradition that has achieved premier social event status; an annual “rite of spring” that draws fans from all over the world to enjoy an afternoon of steeplechase horse racing. While there are plenty of parties to partake in and spring fashions dazzle, some of us really want to see the horses in all THEIR glory. Now realistically I don’t expect you to watch all these movies before our Carolina Cup, but you should be able to accomplish this before the Kentucky Derby on May 2nd. You also might be able to see a secondary theme in my list, to celebrate National Women’s History Month by remembering the courageous women and girls that broke the gender barrier.
These are MY favorite Horse Movies starting with #1:
- “Seabiscuit” 2003, PG-13 – This is the #1 grossing horse film and a fan favorite. Based on Laura Hillenbrand’s bestselling book, we have the life and racing career of Seabiscuit, an undersized and overlooked Thoroughbred racehorse, whose unexpected successes made him a hugely popular media sensation in the US during the Great Depression. Let’s cheer for the underdog!! This film has an excellent script and cast that includes Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Elizbeth Banks and William H. Macy. “Seabiscuit” received seven Academy Awards nominations, including best picture, but ultimately lost all seven. No matter – still my favorite.
- “Secretariat” 2010, PG – Funny, most critics and fans lean towards “Seabiscuit” as the superior film due to stronger acting and script. But “Secretariat” is also a great story about an American housewife that takes over her father’s struggling horse farm, and against all odds, guides a gifted colt to become a Triple Crown Winner. Believe it or not, this is a Disney film, full of good feelings and following dreams. It is a great movie, and one that comes close as far as enjoyment, but falls a bit short of “Seabiscuit”. *Fun Fact: Secretariat is considered the faster and more superior horse, breaking and holding most records.
- “Hidalgo” 2004, PG-13 – This is a biographical adventure film that stars Viggo Mortensen as Frank T. Hopkins, a former Pony Express rider and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show performer, is challenged to race his mustang Hidaldo, in a treacherous 3,000 mile race “Ocean of Fire” across the Arabian desert in 1890. Now mind you, this is a race against purebred Arabian horses. I love Omar Sharif as Sheik Riyadh, who as a traditionalist, starts off dismissing American cowboy Hopkins and his mustang as inferior. But as the race progresses, the Sheik grows to respect Hopkins’ courage, skill, and the bond with his horse, ultimately liking and admiring him. This is one of the most solid action/adventure movies I’ve seen AND it stars a horse! There’s a great balance of combat, excitement, drama, heart and beautiful desert cinematography.
- “War Horse” 2011, PG-13 – This film is considered a war drama and is directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. Set before and during World War I, it follows Joey, a bay Irish Hunter horse raised by English teenager Albert to be a farm horse, but the bond between Joey and Albert strengthens when he is taught to come when Albert imitates an owl’s call (important detail to remember). Joey is bought by the British Army and goes through many trials before Albert is finally old enough to enlist. A series of injuries for both Albert and Joey are bloody, but that is what war is about. Have tissues handy because this is an emotional drama that tugs at the heartstrings! Both Albert and Joey make it out of the war and reunite to live out on the family farm. This is not one of Spielberg’s biggest box office successes, it is one of the highest-grossing World War I film.
- “The Horse Whisperer” 1998, PG-13 – This film is in memory of the late great Robert Redford, who directed and starred in the film. I read the book, and the movie is just as much of a tear-jerker. Redford stars as Tom Booker, “The Horse Whisper, a Montana rancher with a gift for healing horses, who helps a traumatized teenage girl (a very young Scarlett Johansson) and her horse recover from a devastating accident, prompting her mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) to re-evaluate her New York life. I won’t spoil the ending, but they…oh never mind. Watch the movie!
- “Black Beauty” 2020, G – This version of Black Beauty is my favorite. Disney has reimagined Anna Sowell’s classic novel by updating the story for a new generation by changing the main characters and locations. This film follows the unbreakable bond between a teenage girl named Jo and her horse, Beauty (voiced by Kate Winslet), a wild horse born in the American West. It is interesting hearing Beauty narrating her life from a first-person perspective. Great family film!
- “National Velvet” 1944, G – This film was the OG. I believe that we ALL grew up watching this movie. We have a young Elizabeth Taylor playing Velvet, who loves horses above all else. When she spots a horse named Pie, she must have him no matter what. With the help from a former jockey (played by Mickey Rooney), they secretly train Pie to compete in the prestigious Grand National steeplechase. *Fun Fact: Elizabeth Taylor did much of the riding herself. During filming, she had a bad fall which caused her to have back problems the rest of her life. She was later gifted the horse, because of the close bond they formed.
- “Dreamer” 2005, PG – This is a cute, and often overlooked, family film. It is considered a “sports/drama” inspired by the true story of an injured racehorse named Mariah’s Storm, who was renamed “Sonador/Dreamer” in the movie. The plot follows a horse trainer (played by Kurt Russell) and his daughter (Dakota Fanning) as they nurse the horse back to health and train her to race again, overcoming family struggles and financial hardships. Dreamer ends up running in the Breeders’ Cup. After finishing the movie, Kurt Russell gave 11 year old Dakota Fanning a horse!
- “Dark Horse” 2015, PG – A British documentary about a group of working-class friends in a Welsh mining village who pool their money to breed and race a horse, Dream Alliance, against thoroughbreds. This horse achieved unlikely success despite the horse suffering a near-fatal injury and undergoing experimental stem cell treatment to make a comeback. This inspirational and incredible true story is about an entire community brought together for one horse – and win the Welsh Grand National!
- “Ride Like a Girl” 2019, PG – An Australian biographical sports drama follows Michelle Payne (Teresa Palmer) as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup (supposedly the world’s toughest two-mile horse race). The inspirational true story of Payne’s journey, overcoming sexism and a near-fatal fall, with the support of her father (Sam Neill) and her disabled brother, to achieve an impossible victory and defy the odds of 100-1 in the male-dominated world of horse racing. Fun Fact: After winning, Michelle told the male chauvinistic owners who didn’t think women are good enough to “GET STUFFED”! CLASSIC!
