A good family film in the tradition of the old Roy Rogers and Gene Autry films. Fess Parker is in his usual form as the soft-spoken gentle giant who always stands for what's right. There is a fair level of suspense when Hoyt Axton's character is introduced and the ensuing mystery of exactly who he is and what his connection to Clint (Parker) really is. But the real star is Smoky, the wild stallion who loves Clint and will allow no other man (or woman) to befriend him. The pacing seems somewhat off ... the last 20-minutes appear rushed and fail to give the viewer time to appreciate that Clint has been gone for 4+ years (a US Marine in WWII) and no one can tell him what happened to his beloved Smoky. But the endgame, when Clint and Smoky finally are reunited, is a moment that makes this movie worth watching (along with the great scenery and Hank Thompson's catchy theme song). The rain in Clint's face fails to mask the tear that rolls down his cheek, and it's a great family moment for anyone who loves horses in particular or animals in general. While the film may move slowly and lacks much in emotional appeal until the final few minutes, it still stands as a warm portrayal of more innocent times and the timeless tale of a man and his horse. For fans of Fess Parker or traditional westerns, this is a movie you'll definitely want to see. Sadly, it's not available commercially on VHS or DVD to my knowledge.
8 Reviews
Wonderfully wholesome family entertainment!
PudgyPandaMan16 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This is a great film for the whole family to watch together. The boys and dads will like the cowboy, western setting ( and the pretty Diane Hyland). The girls will like the beautiful black horse, Smoky, and the handsome and fatherly Fess Parker.
Fess plays Clint Barkley, a ranch-hand at Julie Richards' (played by Hyland) ranch. They acquire a wild black stallion that no one can get near - except Clint. It's a heartwarming tale of a man's love for his horse.
This is a classic tale like they use to tell them. There is beautiful outdoor cinematography shot in gorgeous Technicolor. The scenery is truly breathtaking. Its all wholesome fun - even for the youngest in the family. There is one scene where a man is abusing a horse with a strap and it looks rather realistic. It is done at night and doesn't show any detail. But it might still be disturbing for very young children. The man is then stomped by the horse and dies. There is no blood or gore, but again, it nay disturb the very young.
I love Fess Parker and remember him best from the TV series, DANIEL BOONE. He has such a warm and honest on-screen charisma. I remember as a child watching DANIEL BOONE and wishing he was my father. He has a very reassuring and mesmerizing voice that I love listening to. So, to me, the film centers around him and the horse - everyone else is extraneous.
That's not to say the others don't deliver good performances. There are some good folk songs sung by Hoyt Axton, who plays a mysterious man from Clint's past that is full of trouble. I won't spoil the plot by revealing who he is.
Katy Jurado probably stands out most in her supporting role as the ranch housekeeper. She has such a distinctive Hispanic look and such expressive eyes. She never overplays her Mexican heritage but delivers it with authenticity. I remember her most from HIGH NOON - where she won a Golden Globe. She was the first Hispanic actress to be nominated for an Oscar in BROKEN LANCE (a feat not repeated again until 2003 by Selma Hayek).
You will see similarities in this film to Black Beauty - and I don't think it quite equals its quality. However, it is still a good film in its own right and one the whole family can enjoy.
Fess plays Clint Barkley, a ranch-hand at Julie Richards' (played by Hyland) ranch. They acquire a wild black stallion that no one can get near - except Clint. It's a heartwarming tale of a man's love for his horse.
This is a classic tale like they use to tell them. There is beautiful outdoor cinematography shot in gorgeous Technicolor. The scenery is truly breathtaking. Its all wholesome fun - even for the youngest in the family. There is one scene where a man is abusing a horse with a strap and it looks rather realistic. It is done at night and doesn't show any detail. But it might still be disturbing for very young children. The man is then stomped by the horse and dies. There is no blood or gore, but again, it nay disturb the very young.
I love Fess Parker and remember him best from the TV series, DANIEL BOONE. He has such a warm and honest on-screen charisma. I remember as a child watching DANIEL BOONE and wishing he was my father. He has a very reassuring and mesmerizing voice that I love listening to. So, to me, the film centers around him and the horse - everyone else is extraneous.
That's not to say the others don't deliver good performances. There are some good folk songs sung by Hoyt Axton, who plays a mysterious man from Clint's past that is full of trouble. I won't spoil the plot by revealing who he is.
Katy Jurado probably stands out most in her supporting role as the ranch housekeeper. She has such a distinctive Hispanic look and such expressive eyes. She never overplays her Mexican heritage but delivers it with authenticity. I remember her most from HIGH NOON - where she won a Golden Globe. She was the first Hispanic actress to be nominated for an Oscar in BROKEN LANCE (a feat not repeated again until 2003 by Selma Hayek).
You will see similarities in this film to Black Beauty - and I don't think it quite equals its quality. However, it is still a good film in its own right and one the whole family can enjoy.
Phrase in movie
night_watchman455 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I've seen this movie when I was young and had forgotten all about it. Great combination of the old west meeting transition of the 1940's. The location on which it was filmed was beautiful, just sorry I missed that part of the credits. Suggestion to IMDb would be to add that part into the information, just a suggestion.I was able to catch it on TV this morning and now I want to buy it on DVD. There was a phrase on this movie thats a classic. They are in a restaurant and the waitress comes back and asks, "Where did he go?" the man replies, " He went to go see a man about a horse". Which he really did do, made me laugh so much I had forgotten thats where I picked up on that phrase. Another suggestion to IMDb, would be to not limit this comment to a minimum of 10 lines. That makes it difficult to build a comment to a movie if you are not a real good writer.
Great. Touching. A Must See.
Scoval7124 November 2008
Just saw it for the first time, and bought the DVD on eBay. Very fine movie of a man, played excellently by Fess Parker, who tames a wild stallion, Smoky, and how they bond. The secondary plot concerns the growing love affair between Fess and the pretty Diana Hyland, who sort of reminds me of Inger Stevens. Shades of Fury and many scenes are reminiscent of Black Beauty. But it is the horse who is the star in this movie. The horse was not played by Fury, for those of you who are thinking that, as I, myself did. I totally recommend this movie. Great family fare and a lovely, touching story. A must see and a must see for every member of the family.
Good family Movie
ncks-14 November 2008
This is a good family oriented movie set at the beginning of World War II. The film is rare and hard to find but can be found by entering Fess Parker's(the actor in the movie)name into the search engine on your computer which will show all his movies. It is about $14 plus shipping.
It is an emotional movie about a man and a wild horse who become friends after the horse is captured. The man hires on to a ranch after being released from jail for a crime that his brother committed. Later his brother shows up wanting him to give him a second chance. But the brother is still a no account and is finally killed by the horse for abusing it. In the end, after Fess Parker comes back from the war, he finds the horse drawing a junk wagon and buys it back to take it back to the ranch home and freedom.
Robert Wilke is in the movie as the ranch foreman and for once does not play the bad man.
The film is a good addition to a family DVD collection.
It is an emotional movie about a man and a wild horse who become friends after the horse is captured. The man hires on to a ranch after being released from jail for a crime that his brother committed. Later his brother shows up wanting him to give him a second chance. But the brother is still a no account and is finally killed by the horse for abusing it. In the end, after Fess Parker comes back from the war, he finds the horse drawing a junk wagon and buys it back to take it back to the ranch home and freedom.
Robert Wilke is in the movie as the ranch foreman and for once does not play the bad man.
The film is a good addition to a family DVD collection.
wonderful
msmrush28 February 2003
would like to know if this movie is avaliable on video. i watched it as a child and would love to let my children watch it.i have searched all of our video stores and nobody knows anything about it.i was begining to think it was only a dream from an over active imagination.so please if its avaliable on video let me know.
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