"The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader." ~ Paulo Coelho

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

A Celebration of Classic Hollywood Movie Review: National Velvet

Hello, Hello, Hello!!!
I had to put three hellos because I'm so excited! Rose at An Old Fashioned Girl has started her Celebration of Classic Hollywood!!!
Love this Picture!
And I am going to review, National Velvet today for it!

National Velvet:

12 year old Velvet Brown loves horses. "Night and Day I dream of horses." One day she meets a stranger, Mi Taylor, on the road who is looking for a Mrs. Herbert Brown, who happens to be Velvet's Mother. Just then a horse comes galloping in the fields. Velvet falls in love with him right away. "It skips a beat."
Mi Taylor knows a lot about horses but claims he hates them. "That's when you really hate something, when you know too much about it." The horse jumps the hedge and Velvet stops him before he goes farther. The owner, Farmer Ede says he is a mad Pirate. But Velvet calls him Pie. Mi Taylor starts working for Mr. Brown at the butcher shop. One day he and Velvet are making a delivery when they see Pie again. Their dog Jacob runs after him making Pie jump over a hedge, the equivalent of Beecher's Brook, a jump in the Grand National. Velvet dreams of getting the Pie and having him win the Grand National. It is a wonderful story of living your dreams, using your dreams to help others dreams, and knowing when you have had your dream.

Costumes: 9, I couldn't find any full pictures, but I like this one of Edwina's and Velvet's.

Script: 10 "However it may grieve you, I feel fine."
Crew:
Directed by: Clarence Brown. (Really funny since it is about the Brown family.)
Produced by: Pandro S. Berman
Screenplay by: Helen Deutsch
Based on National Velvet by Enid Bagnold
Starring: In the credits it lists Micky Rooney and Donald Crisp first because they were more well known actors, when it is all about Velvet Brown.
Micky Rooney as Mi Taylor
Donald Crisp as Mr. Brown

Angela Lansbury as Edwina Brown
Anne Revere as Mrs. Brown 
Music: 8, wonderful soundtrack here.
Music by: Herbert Stothart
Quotes: 10, "Mrs. Brown, that's the first time I was ever hurt listening to you."
"What's the meaning of goodness if there is no badness to over come?"
Story line: There is a scene which envolves a bit of drunkness. I'm not sure how close this is to the book, but I'll give it an 7.
Overall Score: 9.

Thank you so much Rose for hosting the Classic Hollywood Celebration! Be sure to check it out HERE!!!!!
Sorry for the change in font, I can't get it to work any other way. Thanks for reading!!

MovieCritic

4 comments:

  1. That sounds like an absolutely wonderful movie!!
    I do have a weakness for stories about girls and their horses:)
    And Elizabeth Taylor look just darling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is!
      Doesn't everyone?
      She and Micky Rooney are great together!!

      Delete
  2. Oddly enough, I've never seen this, even though I love horses. I've read the book, though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's worth seeing it! I've been trying to get a hold of the book for a long time, but without sucess!

      Delete

To comment, or not to comment? That is the question. Whatever you decide, I would love to hear from you!! I am always open to suggestions, advice, and any other comments! Even if you don't agree with me, I would love to hear from you as long as you keep the comment respectful and on subject. And, please, no swearing. I love comments on old posts!!
My computer won't let me leave comments, so it might take a few days, but I will reply!

"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, where you stop your story." -Orson Welles