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Post by Claire on Dec 27, 2012 14:48:40 GMT 1
Hi all, Secretariat is on the TV today. This and a comment of Daren's got me thinking about compiling a top 10 of the best racing films of all time. (Secretariat would not be on mine!) Any suggestions?
National Velvet has GOT to be there. I also love Phar Lap apart from the ending which was very sad. It would also be interesing to compare the 'true life' racing films with the fictional ones.
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Post by susanb on Dec 27, 2012 15:01:58 GMT 1
I like the idea, but would we even come up with 10 great racing films? Maybe broaden it to 10 best horse/pony films?
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Post by rallycairn on Dec 27, 2012 15:35:40 GMT 1
Susan, actually I think we can make 10 films, though not necessarily ones of quality! but off the top of my head --
Black Stallion Black Stallion Returns Seabiscuit (2003) Story of Seabiscuit (1949) (never seen it) Bluegrass if we count made for TV miniseries, from the 1980s Champions Kentucky from 1938 (with Loretta Young, pretty enjoyable I think, screenplay by John Taintor Foote and based on a couple of his short stories)
Broadway Bill with Myrna Loy from 1934 and its remake with Bing Crosby called Riding High (1950 - haven't seen that one, the remake, though the first one was pretty good except for the ending; both are Frank Capra films)
Primo Baby, a Canadian 1990 production for older kids that has some laughable elements but also some gorgeous scenery and I like in spite of its flaws Casey's Shadow (a fairly gritty look at Quarter Horse racing, with Walter Matthau) My Old Man (Warren Oates, Kristy McNichol TV movie from the 1970s, very, very loosely based on a Hemingway short story)
And Claire's already said National Velvet and Secretariat. So I think we've got nominees, anyway.
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Post by Claire on Dec 27, 2012 16:15:46 GMT 1
Great list rallycairn. I think we already did a top 10 best horsy films somewhere. Maybe we could have the top 5 racing films of all time I'm sure we could manage that!
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Post by Claire on Dec 27, 2012 16:16:37 GMT 1
Another nominee - Racing Stripes ;D ;D ;D
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Post by kunuma on Dec 27, 2012 16:45:51 GMT 1
Hidalgo
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Post by susanb on Dec 27, 2012 17:53:18 GMT 1
Story of Seabiscuit was pretty well fictionalized, except for one bit....they used footage of the actual Seabiscuit racing for the racing scenes. Starring a grown-up Shirley Temple, it was charming, if not accurate! Another grown-up child star, Margaret O'Brien (played the youngest girl in Meet Me in St. Louis, opposite Charles Laughton in The Canterville Ghost, Beth in the June Allyson version of Little Women) did a fun racing pic called Glory www.imdb.com/title/tt0049268/
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Post by rallycairn on Dec 27, 2012 18:19:24 GMT 1
That's a thought, Claire. I did name all racing films, or at least films where a big race at the end is the main goal, but top 5 might be better given the general quality.
But if we want to include endurance or other types of racing besides speed racing on the flat or steeplechasing, I can add some more titles! Virginia's Run (endurance), Run, Appaloosa, Run ...
Oh, and some harnes titles should qualify regardless, I'd think ... I always liked Home in Indiana with I believe Jeanne Crain. And they remade it under another title with Pat Boone but that version is much too treacly.
Also, what about the original Thunderhead? And the Green Grass of Wy original movie, which didn't have Roddy McDowall as Flicka and Thunderhead did, but inexplicably changed the focus to harness racing?
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Post by susanb on Dec 27, 2012 18:25:49 GMT 1
The Pat Boone version was called April Love....I've never seen the Home in Indiana version, will have to keep an eye out for it!
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Post by darenc1 on Dec 27, 2012 21:30:56 GMT 1
I'd have to include the following:
Seabiscuit Champions National Velvet The Black Stallion The Black Stallion Returns Dreamer Phar Lap Hidalgo Racing Stripes - up to a point! Secretariat - for the sake of argument
I always wish, though, that The Black Stallion had its sequel's musical score!!
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vera
Pony Clubber
Posts: 247
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Post by vera on Dec 29, 2012 6:09:35 GMT 1
We watched a movie called The Cup, about Damien Oliver winning the Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle less than a week after his brother died. we were all hiding a few tears; it was a good but not great film. I remember "Glory"; it was the first horse film I saw in the cinema and apparently I was jumping up and down in my seat willing Glory to victory. Another (not a race film) I really loved was Snowfire.
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Post by Claire on Dec 29, 2012 14:43:35 GMT 1
Quite a few I haven't seen. Must try and track some of these down. We've definitely got enough possibilities for a poll.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2012 19:27:48 GMT 1
The only racing films I've watched are National Velvet and Secretariat.
National Velvet gets my vote.
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Post by Claire on Jan 2, 2013 13:10:45 GMT 1
Any more nominations before I put up a poll?
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Post by Claire on Jan 15, 2013 17:25:55 GMT 1
I'd forgotten about this. Just added poll.
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Post by Claire on Jan 18, 2013 13:56:10 GMT 1
Don't forget to vote on this one folks.
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Post by susanb on Jan 18, 2013 18:53:58 GMT 1
I've voted, but I don't know how valid I really consider my opinion....I'm a bit shocked at how many of these I haven't seen!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2013 19:24:14 GMT 1
Susan I've only watched two of them and only voted for one I must admit I don't watch many films.
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Post by Claire on Jan 18, 2013 22:15:59 GMT 1
I haven't seen that many either actually. But this thread has been good as its given me (and perhaps others) a few films to hunt down. We can always come back and re-vote when we have seen a few more - I put the 'retract vote' function so that you can change your vote any time.
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Post by trixiepony on Jan 18, 2013 23:11:26 GMT 1
How about made 4 TV shows. Most are for the young ones but there kind off cute.
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Post by Claire on Jan 19, 2013 15:06:52 GMT 1
How about made 4 TV shows. Most are for the young ones but there kind off cute. Yeah we could also have a poll for best horsy TV series - Flambards, Follyfoot, White Horses, etc.
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Post by kunuma on Jan 19, 2013 17:05:57 GMT 1
Oh don't start me on White Horses again, I loved it - don't know what it was about that, think it was the song - it still makes me cry!
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Post by Claire on Apr 6, 2013 1:47:06 GMT 1
Just watched Thunderhead and although it is undeniably a film about racing, there is only 1 short race in it! I wonder if there are any other racing films out there with less actual track time?!
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