Starring: Sean Bean, David Thewlis, Jim Carter, Peter Davison, Alun Armstrong Directed By: Caroline Thompson Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product. Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: November 30, 1999 Running Time: 88 minutes Theatrical Release Date: July 29, 1994
Product Description: Anna Sewell's timeless Victorian novel comes touchingly to life in this episodic big-screen adaptation. Lyrically recounted from the handsome stallion's perspective the film traces his fortunes -- from his happy beginnings on a sprawling verdant country manor to working-class London's sooty teeming streets. As he passes from owner to owner during a two-decade span the ever-faithful steed encounters the best and worst of the human spirit.Running Time: 89 min.System Requirements:Starring: Sean Bean and David Thewlis. Directed By: Caroline Thompson. Running Time: 88 mins. This film is presented in "Widescreen" and "Standard" format. Copyright: 1999 Warner Home Video.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 085391440024
Amazon.com: Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of the Anna Sewell novel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a time and a place that could be both beautiful and cruel. Black Beauty faced both hardship and kindness as he passed through the hands of many owners throughout his life. Some are generous, but the agonies endured by the title character may be too harsh for small children. Unfortunately, director Caroline Thompson did not resurrect her magical touch a few years later with another animal tale, Buddy. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Beautiful, Moving, Emotional I remember reading the story of Black Beauty as a child. I was about 10 when I first began reading the sweet words describing his birth, and the sadness that was evoked when describing the passing of his friend "Ginger". I cried as a child, and equally so, wept as an adult. Movies of this quality are rare and don't come along too often. With that being said, it was an absolute joy to sit and be immersed within the story, landscape and emotion of this film. I had the good fortune of viewing it on Animal Planet this past week, and do intend on purchasing it. I know that it will make a wonderful addition to my growing Equine Film collection. For those who have not had the good fortune of seeing this movie, please do so. I am sure that you will come to love horses as much as I do. They truly are the most magnificent of creatures, and make the most beautiful centerpiece for a story of this scale and beauty.
Black Beauty I got this and 3 other movies particularly for my "grand" niece so that she would be exposed to the great film classics of yesteryear. The movie made a powerful impression on her. She loved every one of them. I rate this movie 4 stars!
The Beauty of Black Beauty In this work, screen writer and director Carolyne Thompson and composer Danny Elfman, collaborators in such works as Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas, and others reunite to create their version of Anna Sewell's classic novel Black Beauty. Set in the English countryside in the late 1800s, the story is an autobiography of a horse narrated by that horse that speaks of the life and treatment of the equine in Victorian times. Miss Sewell wrote the work to raise consciousness about the ill treatment she witnessed. Despite moderate deviations from Sewell's text, Director Thompson captures its essence. This is a moving narrative about the innocence, trust, loyalty, betrayal and hope a horse experiences when he is at the behest of owners he has had no choice in selecting. Thompson, Elfman, the trainers and all the co-directors and associates are the real winners in this production as they collectively choreograph the beauty, freedom, frolic, banter, tragedy, cruelty and hope the non-human characters enjoy or endure. Commendable performances are given by Andrew Knott who plays the younger Joe Green, one of Beauty's grooms from his youth, and the good natured cabby Jerry Barker played by David Thewlis who purchases the horse and brings him out of his natural country setting into the cold hard streets of London. The contrast between the good and not-so-good owners Beauty had in the country and the cold entrepreneurial ownership of London is stark; it is marked well when he discovers there a former stable companion, a mare named Ginger whose friendship he greatly cherishes. Along with the cheerfully buoyant white pony Merrylegs, they had spent much time together in their former country dwellings before each was sold to different owners. Tragically, Ginger, by now broken through abusive treatment and overwork, looses her life. Commendable performances continue as Beauty's fortunes turn. He is sold again, this time to a hard driving dealer who forces the horse to pull carts laden with heavy sacks of grain. This treacherous labor eventually takes its toll as Beauty suffers a breakdown. Like Ginger, this once gallant colt full of life and spirit is reduced to a broken shadow bent over as he is once again taken to fair to be sold. It is here that the groom of his youth, the older Joe Green, discovers him and takes him back to the golden pastures of his birth. Joe promises he will never be sold again. In the final pastoral setting, one year later, Beauty, after regaining his strength and spirit, rests upon a grassy mound beneath a tree and finishes his narrative, happy in the certainty that he will never be separated from his friends again.
For the horses alone, in particular the Quarter Horse `Docs Keepin Time' that performed the role of Black Beauty, this is a film well worth viewing in conjunction with reading or rereading Sewell's classic. Add to that the hauntingly beautiful score Danny Elfman provides and you have a marvel. The score hints at the co-existence of an inner-sadness and an inner-joy that Beauty wearily accepts as required.
Happy viewing (and keep a towel at hand).
FOR HORSE LOVERS ONLY !!! THIS IS A SENTIMENTAL TALE THROUGH THE EYES AND VOICE OF A HORSE THAT HAS GOOD MOMENTS ANS BAD TIMES !!! NOT A CHILDS MOVIE !!! YOU WILL CRY AT TIMES AND SMILE AT TIMES !!!
Classic tale that never gets out-dated My five year old daughter has now watched this a dozens times. She loves it. It does have sadness, but it has so many great values in it, and she totally sees that. It is a lovely film.
The DVD itself has no frills, and I can't attest to the pixels, etc. as my television is an old one.
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