National Velvet

Clarence Brown (1944)

11min

U Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tony Sloman

In this adaptation of Enid Bagnold's novel, 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor gives a star-making performance as the girl who dreams of racing her horse in the Grand National. The Yearling director Clarence Brown knows how to tug at the heartstrings and this film has become a classic, even though the story has to be taken with a large pinch of salt. Thanks to a strong performance from Mickey Rooney, an Oscar-winning one from Anne Revere as Velvet's mother, and the appeal of Taylor as Velvet, this is a richly satisfying movie. A misguided British sequel followed in 1978 starring Tatum O'Neal.

Cast & Crew

Mi Taylor Mickey Rooney

Mr Herbert Brown Donald Crisp

Velvet Brown Elizabeth Taylor

Mrs Brown Anne Revere

Edwina Brown Angela Lansbury

Donald Brown Jackie "Butch" Jenkins

Malvolia Brown Juanita Quigley

Race patron Arthur Treacher

Farmer Ede Reginald Owen

Miss Simms Norma Varden

Ted Terry Kilburn

Tim Alec Craig

Director Clarence Brown

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-MayerAvailable on: video and DVD

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Clarence Brown (1944)

Review

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