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The Black Stallion

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The Black Stallion (1979)

October. 13,1979
|
7.4
|
G
| Adventure Family
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While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion that is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a deserted island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once successful trainer. Together they begin training the horse to race against the fastest ones in the world.

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AniInterview
1979/10/13

Sorry, this movie sucks

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Numerootno
1979/10/14

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

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ActuallyGlimmer
1979/10/15

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

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Keeley Coleman
1979/10/16

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

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bkoganbing
1979/10/17

The Black Stallion is one of those boy and a horse stories that Hollywood used to make a lot of. Fittingly it's set in the more innocent times of 1946. In many ways it's a souped up version of the old television series Fury. Also the story of a Black Stallion and the boy who loved him.Young Kelly Reno and his father Hoyt Axton are on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean Sea when it goes down with all hands save for Reno and a black horse. Both make it to an island and it's on that island which takes up about a quarter of the film running time where the two bond. Little dialog if any, but some beautiful music showing the kid spearing for fish to survive and the horse running magnificently on the beach.When they make it back to the States young Reno and The Black Stallion have the good fortune to run into Mickey Rooney former jockey and horse trainer and that itself is a tale I won't tell. Rooney tells him though the horse has speed he has no pedigree, no papers from the Thoroughbred Racing Association. Still Rooney as always is resourceful and the two do find a way to make The Black Stallion a cash cow.The Black Stallion afforded Mickey Rooney a last chance at some Oscar recognition with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. No longer the fresh kid of his salad days Rooney is now a bald wizened old man who is touching as the former racetrack denizen who reaches for glory one more time. He, Reno and the horse have some wonderful scenes together.The Black Stallion, a wonderful family film that still holds up well after almost 40 years.

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chrisart7
1979/10/18

Director Ballard and cinematographer Deschanel, along with composer Carmine Coppola create an amazing ambiance for the actors to work within. This film is something of a precursor to "E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial," as both had screenplays by Melissa Mathison, and both have a boy and his horse/alien with a wordless, symbiotic understanding between them. Child actor Kelly Reno (Alec Ramsey) could have easily played Elliot in "E.T." One wonders if he were in the running for that part."The Black Stallion" is also quite evidently a precursor and inspiration for "Chariots of Fire" (1981). The images of the boy and the horse running along the beach have similar optical effects to that of the young Brits running along the beach in "Chariots." Interestingly, actor Hoyt Axton (portraying Alec's father) plays a melody on flute in an early "Black Stallion" scene which is indeed the "Chariots of Fire" theme, but with a different tempo and duration of notes. Vangelis undoubtedly saw this, but when he was brought to court for plagiarism the judge ruled in his favour (instead of composer Carmine Coppola)."The Black Stallion" is a beautiful work of art.

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sme_no_densetsu
1979/10/19

Francis Ford Coppola's production of "The Black Stallion" tells the story of a boy who becomes shipwrecked on a deserted island with a mysterious and spirited Arabian stallion. When they return to civilization, the boy enlists the aid of a former trainer in order to realize his dream of racing his horse against the fastest in the world.While "The Black Stallion" is ostensibly a family movie, it may move too slowly for the average kid of today. As far as that goes, it probably moved too slowly for the average kid of 1979 as well. For instance, there's a stretch on the deserted island that has absolutely no dialogue or voice-over for approximately half an hour. That being said, for the patient viewer the movie offers plenty of attractive visuals as it takes its time moving along.Directorially, Caroll Ballard steered the movie with a sure hand and elicited fine performances from his actors. Young Kelly Reno gave a naturalistic performance and interacted with the titular horse with ease. Mickey Rooney likewise took a subdued approach in portraying the once successful horse trainer, in the process snagging an Oscar nomination. Naturally, the role recalls his similar one in "National Velvet" but here he gives a much more nuanced performance. Of the relatively small supporting cast, only Hoyt Axton, Teri Garr & Clarence Muse really stand out.Apart from the attractive cinematography of Caleb Deschanel, the movie also benefits from a varied and well-suited score by Carmine Coppola. Also notable is the fact that Alan Splet's sound editing garnered a Special Achievement Oscar. I can't say that I took particular note of the sound but there you have it.In the end, "The Black Stallion" is a well-crafted movie suitable for family viewing, though probably best appreciated by visually oriented adults. The deliberate pace may clash a little with the plot's driving force but, overall, the movie proves to be a worthwhile viewing experience.

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A_Different_Drummer
1979/10/20

Giving this film a "10" is a no brainer. If a film is the best in its class, if it verily redefines the class, it is by definition setting the bar that other films must beat. Clearly, prior to 1979 there were other "animal" films, all more or less following in the well-beaten paths set by the likes of Born Free, Lassie Come Home, or The Incredible Journey. (We will specifically and deliberately not mention Old Yeller, a production unleashed on unsuspecting children at a time when Disney was clearly off his meds.) All had one thing in common, they tend to focus EITHER on the furry stars OR the human stars, but never really both. And then out of nowhere comes this one-of-a-kind film (once again, in fairness to the producers of Black Stallion Returns, whose parents may or may not have ever married, we will not mention THAT film, EITHER.) This film is magical. The setup, like the film, is one of a kind. Allowing the horse and the boy to get to know each other on an iconic "desert island" is a wonderful trick -- it allows the audience to get to know them at the same time, without feeling self-conscious. This creates "connection" and, as I keep saying in these reviews, connection is the difference between a so-so film and a classic. The secondary roles are delightful as well. Rooney at the end of his career still powerful and memorable as a cranky old duffer. Teri Garr outside her "comedy" comfort zone is completely charming. As any good film should, the story just keeps dragging you in, the race, the prize, the undersized jockey, the conflict, the suspense, the resolution. I have seen a lot of films but this one is in my special collection, it can be watched over and over. Like the stars, it never gets old. Like the audience, it never wants to.

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