Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
This week, I thought, I would bring you something to while away the time over this holiday period and have picked out what I consider to be a selection of the best horsey films ever made.
The all-time favourite has to be Black Beauty, the worldwide famous classic novel of 1877 by Anna Sewell adapted onto the screen in 1994 by Warner Brothers.
The film brings the plight of working horses in Victorian Britain to the attention of the public. It follows the adventures of a stunning ebony horse from his birth and upbringing to his experiences with various owners - some of whom are caring, some are cruel and place the vulnerable and trusting Black Beauty in life threatening situations.
Black Beauty himself narrates the film as he does in the book giving accounts of his colt-hood and his perception of humans. Incredibly touching, Black Beauty is a deserved classic amongst horse books and indeed amongst all novels and happily this film does the book justice.
Champions (Twentieth Century Fox 1984) starred John Hurt and Aldaniti, a real tear-jerking story of triumph over tragedy. It follows the life of Bob Champion - one of England's most successful steeplechase jockeys - who in 1979 was diagnosed with cancer and only given eight months to live.
Undergoing months of painful chemotherapy, he never lost his will and determination to race again. Meanwhile, his ride Aldaniti recovers from a serious leg injury, and together they make a victorious comeback, winning the 1981 Grand National. Aldaniti plays himself, and some of the actors are real-life track people.
Phar Lap (Buena Vista 1984). When he beat the odds, they changed the rules. When he broke the records they weighted him down - but nothing could stop Phar Lap, the Australian wonder horse of racing.
This film tells the true story of a horse who was extremely unruly who after losing his first four races, with the determination and kindness of his stable boy Tommy Woodcock, went on to greatness.
Winning every race he ran in, today he is remembered in Australia as a symbol of national pride 'The Heart of a Nation'.
Another amazing racing film is Seabiscuit (Universal Pictures 2003) based on a non-fiction novel by Laura Hillenbrand. Set in the 1930s it tells the story of three men who mould a seemingly untrainable thoroughbred into a people's champion. Together they turn Seabiscuit into a national hero culminating in a showdown with Triple Crown winner War Admiral - will it end in triumph or tears?
Paramount in 1993, brought out The Silver Stallion: King of the Wild Brumbies, adapted from the book The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchel.
It tells the story of a clever and beautiful wild stallion, set in Australia, featuring breathtaking scenery and horses.
Thowra, a stunning cream-coloured foal grows up through several seasons. Winter and the hardships of survival in the snow-packed mountains, summer equally as daunting, a time when men try to catch the Brumbies and cruelly break them of their wildness.
For one man capturing Thowra became an obsession, the struggle between the man and wild horse takes on epic proportions, building to a haunting climax.
Then there is Hidalgo, (Touchstone Pictures 2004) Middle East meets the Wild West in this exciting action movie, loosely based on the life of 19th Century American cowboy Frank T Hopkins.
He's invited to participate in the Ocean of Fire, a 3,000 mile horse race across the Arabian desert, and Hopkins and his Mustang, Hidalgo find themselves competing for a $10,000 purse. However, they are up against some of the fastest horses and most accomplished and devious riders - will he walk off with the prize?
One that everyone has probably seen many times, but is always worth watching is The Horse Whisperer, (Buena Vista 1998). Robert Redford stars in and directs this gripping epic, based on the best selling Nicholas Evans novel.
Fourteen-year-old Grace MacLean is emotionally and physically scarred after suffering a tragic accident - shown in horrific detail in the film - on her beloved horse, Pilgrim. The horse too is completely traumatised by the events, so Grace's mother enlists the help of a horse whisperer to try to rebuild the lives of those shattered by the accident. But love blossoms between the hunky horseman and Grace's mother, resulting in unexpected consequences.
Others to look out for are My Friend Flicka, National Velvet and Spirit - Stallion of the Cimarron, a few to watch over the holidays ... Enjoy!
These films can be found new or secondhand over the internet on video or DVD - try amazon.com or cduniverse.com, or your local DVD rental shop.
