A horse tells his own story
Added 2/11/2010
Though perhaps occasionally too intense for the youngest or most tender-hearted kids, this British version of the classic children's book Black Beauty (Unabridged Classics) follows the original closely and is beautifully filmed, with a handsome equine lead and an affecting storyline, and a good mastery of the "look" of Victorian England. It was to help ameliorate the sufferings of city horses like Beauty that the original ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh, and although there was a British version (the RSPCA) as early as 1824, enforcement was obviously weak until the 20th Century. Supported by friends Ginger (the spirited chestnut mare) and Merrylegs (the gallant pony), Beauty looks back in his old age upon the many owners, some kind, some cruel, and some simply thoughtless or neglectful, that he's had in his life: from colthood on a prosperous farm, to an idyllic period with Squire Gordon (Peter Davison) and his family, to the very grand estate of the Wexmires (Eleanor Bron, Peter Cook), to experience as a cart and a livery horse, to pulling Jerry Barker's (David Thewlis) cab in London, his ups and downs are affectingly told. A few incidents of the book are left out that could have been kept, but on the whole the adaptation is faithful, and the horses are both beautiful and splendidly trained.
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Black Beauty
Added 9/11/2009
Love this movie as a little girl and just had to buy it for my daughters.
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a movie for children about horses
Added 6/18/2009
Although not entirely faithful to the original novel,
the movie has a very poetic spirit about the suffering
of animals in 19th century England.
As some people misuse cars, people misused horses
and each other in this movie.
I liked the movie, but it is very slow and at times very sad.
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A Cry Fior Humane Treatment of Horses
Added 5/9/2009
My favorite is still the mini series put out by NBC and so not available on either VHS or DVD. This movie is my favorite. It covers most of the book, though not all. It begins with Black Beauty's birth and training. His first home with the squire was a good one, and he developed a friendship with the mare Ginger and a little pony named Merrylegs. A good life where the horses were well treated. When he and Ginger were sold, their next home was not so pleasant. Still, his being tormented by a bearing rein was still better than other things he had to endure until his final home which was much as how it was described in the novel. You hope with mistreatment of various kinds brought to people's attention, as well as ignorance on what was going on, more people raised their voices to demand better treatment of these beautiful and willing servants. There are differences and omissions but that is to be expected. A voice-over for Beauty allows the viewer to understand things from a horse's point of view even though written by a screenwriter rather than a real horse. A very enjoyable movie, unsettling, disturbing, but also delightful and uplifting, and a wonderful ending.
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One of the best horse films I have seen
Added 5/1/2009
This is one of the best movies I have seen. It is both happy and sad and also portrays how many people mistreated horses at that time. It just makes it so much more realistic when things are told from the point of view of the horse. This along with a touching story make the movie worthwhile.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A horse tells his own story
Added 2/11/2010
Though perhaps occasionally too intense for the youngest or most tender-hearted kids, this British version of the classic children's book Black Beauty (Unabridged Classics) follows the original closely and is beautifully filmed, with a handsome equine lead and an affecting storyline, and a good mastery of the "look" of Victorian England. It was to help ameliorate the sufferings of city horses like Beauty that the original ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh, and although there was a British version (the RSPCA) as early as 1824, enforcement was obviously weak until the 20th Century. Supported by friends Ginger (the spirited chestnut mare) and Merrylegs (the gallant pony), Beauty looks back in his old age upon the many owners, some kind, some cruel, and some simply thoughtless or neglectful, that he's had in his life: from colthood on a prosperous farm, to an idyllic period with Squire Gordon (Peter Davison) and his family, to the very grand estate of the Wexmires (Eleanor Bron, Peter Cook), to experience as a cart and a livery horse, to pulling Jerry Barker's (David Thewlis) cab in London, his ups and downs are affectingly told. A few incidents of the book are left out that could have been kept, but on the whole the adaptation is faithful, and the horses are both beautiful and splendidly trained.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Black Beauty
Added 9/11/2009
Love this movie as a little girl and just had to buy it for my daughters.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
a movie for children about horses
Added 6/18/2009
Although not entirely faithful to the original novel,
the movie has a very poetic spirit about the suffering
of animals in 19th century England.
As some people misuse cars, people misused horses
and each other in this movie.
I liked the movie, but it is very slow and at times very sad.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
