Movie Description NATIONAL VELVET is the poignant family story that made a young Elizabeth Taylor a star. Taylor excels as Velvet Brown, a 1920s working-class girl whose dreams of owning her own horse become a reality when she wins Pie, a wild and unruly horse, in a raffle. With the help of Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney), a skittish, gun-shy ex-jockey, Velvet trains Pie to be a race champion despite the wishes of her loving but cautious parents (Donald Crisp and Ann Revere). Velvet's determination pays off, and the Brown family (including Angela Lansbury as Edwina, Velvet's sophisticated older sister) pools its money and enters the family pride and joy in the prestigious Grand National race, only to have its hopes dashed when the rider renegs--leading Velvet to do something extraordinary. This uplifting adaptation of Enid Bagnold's novel features stunning photography of coastal England and acclaimed crosscut editing that heightens the tension in the famous race scene. Young costars Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney are fabulous together, full of youthful charm and exuberance, ably supported by a first-rate ensemble cast.
| Credits | | Producer: | Pandro S. Berman | | Cast: | Alec Craig, Alec Hartford, Arthur Shields, Donald Crisp, Douglas Francis, Frank Benson, Frederic Worlock, Gerald Oliver Smith, Gordon Richards, Harry Allen, Leyland Hodgson, Moyna MacGill, Norma Varden, William Austin, Willliam Bailey |
Editorial Reviews 5 stars out of 5 -- "Top-billed Mickey Rooney was never better as the horse trainer on the make, but even he is bested by the passionate conviction of exquisite, 12 year-old Elizabeth Taylor, utterly enchanting as Velvet Brown." Empire - Angie Errigo (10/01/2008)
Awards 1945Academy AwardsBest Film EditingRobert J. Kern, 1945Academy AwardsBest Supporting ActressAnne Revere
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