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Black Beauty
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Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Find all by Warner Home Video
Directed By: Caroline Thompson
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Picture Format: Array
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Theatrical Release: July 29, 1994
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Retail Price: $9.98
Online Sale Price: $6.99
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Starring: Sean Bean, David Thewlis, Jim Carter, Peter Davison, Alun Armstrong
A wondrous new version of Anna Sewell's classic about a remarkable horse and the various owners whose lives he transforms. "The most imaginative and stirring picture since The black Stallion" (Washington Times) Year: 1994 Director: Caroline Thompson Starring: Sean Bean, David Thewlis, Jim Carter
User Submitted Black Beauty Reviews
October 7, 2008
Black Beauty
Beautiful movie. Very touching. I read the book before, and the movie is very loyal to it. Buy it ,you won't regret :)
December 27, 2007
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.
November 29, 2007
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!
May 18, 2007
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).
May 13, 2007
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 !!!
January 27, 2007
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.
January 25, 2007
Heart Warming
It does not matter if you are a horse lover or not you will love this movie, it is amazing I watched it at a friends house and then made the goal to buy it the next day. A movie you will definatly want on your self.
January 12, 2007
Classically Appreciated
The product arrived in great shape and in a timely manner. The person receiving it was very happy. Good Seller, Great Shopping.
January 11, 2007
Black Beauty
This CD was purchased as a gift, and I am unable to give it a fair rating. I did however as a child enjoy the original movie.
January 9, 2007
Gorgeous, poignant first-horse take on "Black Beauty" is a family classic
This new (1994) cinematic take on Anna Sewell's classic novel sets the bar impossibly high for future remakes . . . this is a visually lush, textually faithful interpretation of Ms. Sewell's novel filled with understated, pitch-perfect performances by a large cast.
Ms. Sewell wrote "Black Beauty" as a semi-protest against the inhumane treatment of animals in Victorian England. Accordingly, she made a horse - the titular character - the narrator of the story. This film version, unlike prior efforts, retains this tactic, and thanks to Alan Cummings' wonderful voice-over, it works extremely well. BB is an eager, pleasant horse who just wants to frolic with his friends, give his humans a good ride, and eat his oats. Curmudgeons out there (and I'm looking at you, Roger Ebert) may smirk and say that real horses wouldn't talk this way. Well, they may be right, but until a real horse tells me otherwise, I choose to suspend my disbelief.
BB starts his life in a bucolic setting and quickly meets lifelong friends, his girlfriend Ginger, Merrylegs the pony, and the lad Joe. This idyllic setting cannot last, and BB is forced to join the harsh world of working England. Owners range from inconsiderate to malicious to tender (most notably a young David Thewlis as a cab driver), and the world has many harsh lessons to teach our young horse. Some of these messages can be frightening for smaller kiddies, but tykes also seem to be able to tap into the strong messages of love and friendship that underpin the story. The stirring sights of the horses at play will also lift the darkest spirits.
This is a rated 'G' movie that adults and children can enjoy together. Prepare to do some serious sniffling as the story progresses, and Danny Elfman's soundtrack is wonderful. At the end of the story, as BB reflects on his life, parents and children will feel a bit wiser and have a stronger affinity for their four-legged friends. Which is just as Ms. Sewell wanted it.
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