National Velvet (1945)

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Velvet's parents always addressing each other as Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown seemed rather bizarre and cold. Angela Lansbury was a lovely young lady portraying eldest daughter Edwina. But I didn't understand the purpose of Juanita Quigley as sister Melvolia who was practically a lookalike for Liz Taylor's Velvet. As a child star Liz was fantastic in this wonderful family film.

There are wonderful forces at work in this film. First of all, we have the young, fiery Elizabeth Taylor who becomes obsessed with entering a horse in the Grand Steeplechase. Of course, children and women are not supposed to be taking this on. There is Mickey Rooney, the trainer who assists her in following her dream. Then you have to have the horse that is capable of winning the thing. Throw in a society that is male dominated and unwilling to give a chance to a woman, and you have a great tale. But the main thing is that it rises above the typical horse story because the acting is very good, and the situations are very real. For some reason, young women seem to be most enamored with horses, so this take on the Enid Bagnold book was incredibly popular.

I wonder why they no longer make such movies. This story had everything, humour, cast, dialogues, emotions, and above all simplicity. Truly, how faith can overcome anything! Now I know why Elizabeth Taylor was so famous. Mrs. Brown character is wonderful, if I've to remember this movie for anything, that would be her dialogues and learnings. Quite deep and old age wisdom. I thought I am a learned person, but she taught be many things. Mi Brown eventually goes, because until we leave there is no coming back! (as he says). The dialogues of the whole movie are quotable, didn't find the same with other movies. The photography is wonderful, Ireland is beautiful and the movie portrays the beauty well. "The Pie" made me start loving horses, may be one day I own one... I'll remember this movie for long...

when i was growing up, little girls always seemed to have a thing for horses. when i was in a lot of girl's rooms i usually saw horses on the shelves along with dolls. i reasoned that horses were kind of a girl thing. considering a friend of mine has a daughter that just talked her boyfriend of limited income into shelling out for a thousand dollar horse for her birthday last month, i'd have to say it still seems to be.i dunno. ever since i saw 'Equus', i've never looked at horse stories in quite the same way. but i try not to let the sordidness of 'Equus' taint my enjoyment of something benign and innocent like this. funny. Richard Burton was in the film version of 'Equus'.'National Velvet' is a great film for kids if not a little basic and narrow in it's intended message. success and winning are everything. can't say i totally agree, but a little triumph in life gives us satisfaction and helps us to feel human. there is a lot of pontification here but nothing of any real spiritual value. the mother herself even states she often has faith in winning horses and money over the troubles caused by her fellow mankind. understandable, but a little cold.the best thing by far in this movie is the performance by Elizabeth Taylor. this is quite a performance for a young person. it's hardly surprising she became a great interpreter of stage and of Shakespeare. Taylor was truly a remarkable actress if not a little messed up as person.Taylor's performance in this movie is a important focal point for this film because of it's message of female and child empowerment. i think that's the true message of success for me with this film. it attempts to inspire all to win. but it's strongest message really goes out to young woman and girls and hopes to empower them with life and capability.