The Black Stallion (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Black Stallion |
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1979 poster
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| Directed by | Carroll Ballard |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Carmine Coppola |
| Cinematography | Caleb Deschanel |
| Editing by | Robert Dalva |
| Studio | American Zoetrope |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | October 17, 1979 |
| Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.7 million |
| Money made | $37.8 million |
The Black Stallion is an exciting adventure film from 1979. It is based on the popular 1941 children's book of the same name by Walter Farley. The movie begins in 1946, a few years after the book was written. It tells the amazing story of a boy named Alec Ramsey. He gets shipwrecked on a lonely island with a wild Arabian horse. Alec becomes friends with this powerful black stallion. After they are rescued, they decide to enter a big race. They will challenge two champion horses!
The movie's story was written for the screen by Melissa Mathison, Jeanne Rosenberg, and William D. Wittliff. It was directed by Carroll Ballard. The main actors include Kelly Reno, Teri Garr, Hoyt Axton, and Mickey Rooney. The beautiful Arabian horse Cass Ole plays the Black Stallion. The music for the film was created by Carmine Coppola. He is the father of the famous Hollywood producer Francis Ford Coppola, who helped make this movie. In 2002, The Black Stallion was chosen for the National Film Registry. This means it is considered very important to American culture and history.
Contents
Story of the Film
Alec Meets the Black Stallion
In the summer of 1946, a boy named Alec Ramsey is on a ship near North Africa. He sees a wild black stallion being forced onto the ship. The horse is tied up tightly. Alec is fascinated by the horse. Later, he secretly gives the horse some sugar cubes. But the horse's owner catches him. The owner tells Alec in Arabic to stay away from "Shetan," which means "devil." He pushes Alec away.
Later, Alec's father shows him money he won from a card game. He gives Alec a pocket knife and a small statue of Bucephalus. His father tells him the story of how Alexander the Great tamed Bucephalus. That night, Alec is thrown from his bed. The ship has caught fire and is sinking! In the confusion, Alec grabs his knife. He rushes to the black stallion and frees him. The stallion then jumps into the sea. Alec is also thrown overboard by the waves. In the water, he swims to the stallion. He grabs the horse's ropes just as the ship explodes. Alec then passes out.
Surviving on the Island
Alec wakes up on a deserted island. He starts to look around. He finds the stallion caught in his ropes between some rocks. Alec uses his knife to free the stallion again. The horse runs away. For a while, they stay apart. Alec finds ways to survive by catching fish and eating seaweed. Suddenly, Alec faces a cobra! The Black Stallion comes to his rescue and kills the snake. But then the horse runs off again.
Alec decides to try to get closer to the horse. He offers the stallion some seaweed. The hungry horse cannot resist. He struggles with his fear of humans. But hunger wins, and he takes Alec's offer. Their special bond is now formed, and they become best friends. Alec even manages to ride the wild horse, even though he falls off many times. One day, a fishing boat arrives. It rescues both Alec and the stallion.
A New Home and a Big Race
Back home in America, Alec is welcomed like a hero. The Black Stallion stays temporarily in Alec's backyard. But a garbage collector, not knowing there's a wild horse, scares the Black. The horse races off down the street after being spooked by a car. Alec chases him all over town but loses him. The next day, Alec meets Snoe, who tells him where the Black is. Alec finds the stallion in the barn of Henry Dailey. Henry is a retired racehorse jockey. He spent all night catching the Black. Alec arranges for the Black to stay at Henry's barn.
Alec wonders how fast the Black is. So, Alec and Henry decide to train the Black for horse racing. Henry also teaches Alec how to be a jockey. The Black's speed surprises Henry. Henry immediately plans to get the Black into a special race. This race is between the country's two current champion horses. To do this, he sets up a secret demonstration at night. The press can see the Black's speed. They keep Alec and the Black's identities a secret. News spreads about the "mystery horse." The Black is entered into the race. However, Alec's mother worries about her son being a jockey. She fears it's too risky. But she finally agrees and lets him ride the horse in the race.
The Final Race
The race is the most exciting horse racing event of the year. Before the two champions and the Black enter the starting gate, the Black gets into a fight. He wounds his leg. Alec does not see the wound until he is in the gate. As he gets off the horse, the bell rings, and the horses take off! Alec desperately tries to stay on his horse and stop him. He falls behind. But the Black won't stop running. When Alec gets his balance back, the Black is already catching up. Alec encourages the Black to run as fast as he can. He remembers their wild rides on the island. They catch up to the other horses. The Black Stallion eventually wins by two lengths!
Who's in the Movie?
- Kelly Reno as Alec Ramsay
- Mickey Rooney as Henry Dailey
- Teri Garr as Mrs. Ramsay, Alec's mother
- Hoyt Axton as Mr. Ramsay, Alec's father
- Clarence Muse as Snoe
- Michael Higgins as Jim Neville
- Ed McNamara as Jake
- Doghmi Larbi as Arab
- John Burton as Jockey No. 1
- John Buchanan as Jockey No. 2
- Kristen Vigard as Becky
- Fausto Tozzi as Rescue Captain
- John Karlsen as Archeologist
- Leopoldo Trieste as Priest
- Frank Cousins as African Chieftain
- Don Hudson as Zaurog
- Marne Maitland as Drake Captain
- Tom Dahlgren as Veterinarian
The Horses in the Film
Cass Ole, a champion Arabian stallion, played the Black Stallion in most scenes. Fae Jur, another black Arabian stallion, was his main double. Fae Jur's most important scene is when Alec tries to gain the Black's trust on the beach. Two other stunt horses were used for running, fighting, and swimming scenes.
El Mokhtar, an Egyptian Arabian racehorse, was first picked to play the Black. But the filmmakers could not get him from his owners. He does appear in The Black Stallion Returns, the sequel. By then, the studio bought out his owners to use him.
Napoleon, Henry's horse, was played by Junior. Junior had also been in National Lampoon's Animal House as Trooper, another horse.
Awards and Special Mentions
Academy Awards
The Black Stallion was nominated for two Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars:
- Mickey Rooney was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
- Robert Dalva was nominated for Best Film Editing.
In addition, Alan Splet received a special award for his amazing sound editing in the film.
Golden Globe Awards
Carmine Coppola was nominated for Best Original Score at the Golden Globe Awards for his music in the film. He later won this award for his music in the movie Apocalypse Now.
British Academy Awards
Caleb Deschanel was nominated for Best Cinematography by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. Cinematography is about how the movie is filmed and looks.
LA Film Critics Awards
The film won two awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. These were for Best Cinematography (Caleb Deschanel) and Best Music (Carmine Coppola).
Other Recognitions
The film also won the 1979 National Society of Film Critics award for Best Cinematography.
In 2002, the film was chosen for the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. This means it is considered "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
The film is also recognized by the American Film Institute:
- 2006: AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers – It was ranked #64 on a list of inspiring American films.
More About The Black Stallion
The film had a sequel in 1983 called The Black Stallion Returns, which also starred Kelly Reno. There was also a TV show called The Adventures of the Black Stallion. It aired from 1990 to 1993 and featured Mickey Rooney. In 2003, a shorter movie called The Young Black Stallion was made. It was a prequel, showing what happened before the first movie, and was released for IMAX theaters.
See also
In Spanish: El corcel negro para niños
