National Velvet (DVD)

Elizabeth Taylor began a great movie career portraying the adolescent, Velvet Brown, who has a passion for horses and speed. Like an adult horse whisperer, Velvet Brown has a love affair with the young, but brilliant horse, Pie. The film is complete with terrific English scenery, super performances by legendary actors, wonderful music, and a story that will last as long as classic films do. Filmed in the long past of movie history, National Velvet is as fresh today as it was when it first thrilled audiences around the world. It is noteworthy that long before girls and women received equal status on the screen, National Velvet champions the courage and bravery and whole heart of it women stars. National Velvet is a treasure that should be viewed by each new generation of movie fans. It is a masterpiece!

This is a story of believing in yourself, in a fun package. The 12-year-old kid, Velvet, reminds me of the modern dog trainer, Cesar Millan. I saw him on video explaining his story, and he was a little boy in Mexico who decided he'd go to LA, where they trained Lassie, so he could become a famous dog trainer. At one point, he said he was washing cars in California, barely able to speak any English, and telling people he was going to be famous on TV. He was laughing and said he was naive, but it helped him because he didn't recognize obstacles and he just kept going. He'd probably love this movie, because the character in the film is so similar to him: a determined kid with a dream. There's wisdom in this story; it shows people taking the pitfalls in life with a sense of humor, and treating others with kindness. I didn't like the part where they showed the race, but the horses who tripped on the jumps did get up and trot away, thankfully. This movie left me in a great mood, and after renting it, I decided to buy it. A perk of the film is that Elizabeth Taylor knew the horse and suggested him to the studio, and the actress really did love that horse and owned him for the rest of his life. So the affection in this movie is authentic, and she did most of the riding. This is a movie filled with love, humor, and all that's good about people. Also shows spectacular footage of a gorgeous horse, along with great acting by everyone. Wish I'd seen this fantastic movie sooner!!!

This is a great family movie. It's lighthearted and fun although it's somewhat predictable. It's very enjoyable and interesting to see some big Holywood stars in their youth (Elizabeth Taylor, Angela Lansbury, and Mickey Rooney).

This is a classic and Warner Bros. has restored it to it's original beauty. The picture quality is crystal clear and pristine. The colors are bright and the sound is excelent and clear. I have seen this movie in the past and never have I seen it look as wonderful as it does on blu-ray. Obviously a lot of love and care whent into the restoration of this wonderful classic. With this movie looking this good on blu-ray there is no need to put out a 4K blu-ray of this movie ever. Warner's line of Archive Collection titles never fail to impress me. Every time I watch one of these catalog titles they look and sound better than when they were in theaters. This film is no exception. If you love this film as much as I do, it will not dissapoint you. This is the best the film has ever looked since it first came to theaters a long time ago. This is what blu-ray is meant for, showing off how good a film can look if restored properly. And it does!

My husband's a retired motion film processor and cringes at the lint, dirt etc. that shows up on this film. (Now that I've been made aware of it, I see it on countless other divd's of vintage films that I've been enjoying for years. Who cares) There are a couple of brief distortions and and one that lasts a few seconds. Even my 8 year old granddaughter noticed it and commented on it. But I have to say, it's still the best 5 star movie made to bring to life the wildest dreams a child can have. My grandkids (ages 4 to 8) have watched this over and over (and over) again. The story is captivating and engaging and kids are a LOT more forgiving and FAR less critical than adults. The film itself could have been cleaner and handled with a little more care, but it hasn't touched the wonderful story or the excitement of the race. My granddaughter walked away with a head full of dreams just the way the movie has inspired children since it was first made. For adults to deny their children the pleasure and delights of this wonderful----on a grand scale----movie because of their own peevish aggravations, is a travesty! Leave the room if you must, but don't ruin it for your kids. Let them indulge the pleasure of drifting away in thoughts of one day winning the National riding the Pi!

A lady friend, I thought, stated that this was hers and her friend's favorite film. So, I rented it, watched it, had heard all about it in the previous years,, and was mildly entertained. The truth is is that this is for the female horse enthusiast, of which there are many. It's not a bad film, but I found it somewhat hard to stick with as it's just not really "my thing", so to speak. Horses are interesting, pretty girls having good times with good looking boys give you a sense that all is right with the world, but I think you really need to have a real passion for not just animals but specifically horses to really get into this film. Seeing the young Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney play their parts was kind of fun and interesting. I mean you heard all about them growing up, but rarely did you see the movies they were in, just how they were in said movies with a few clips of said films. So, from that standpoint it was interesting to finally see this film after hearing about it for years and years. But, in the end I was hoping for a better ending for Liz Taylor's character. Oh well. Not a bad film, but from a time when films were far more artificial than they are now, although it was refreshing to see a movie that had story as a focus and not some social psychology nor psychiatric strategy trying to pull one over the audience.

The movie plot was ahead of its time. If you are an Elizabeth Taylor fan this is a must see.

i recommend this film for anyone that is sick of the trash HOLLYQUEERHOLE makes today. this is a classic a time when real talent meant something and when actual skill was required.

Great film! Perfekt. Snabb och smidig leverans. Tack!

Si`, Gran Premio e` un film del '44: il primo con Elizabeth Taylor tredicenne circa. Una ragazzina che si innamora di un cavallo bizzoso, che lo riceve ad una lotteria, che lo cavalca con l'aiuto costante di Mickey Rooney, un ragazzo di poco piu` anziano che viene adottato. Per il Gran Premio Elizabeth si esercita, spende 100 sterline (somma immensa per una ragazzina di campagna, offerta dalla madre che aveva passato la Manica) che Mickey porta fino a Londra e riesce a non perdere) e intende acquistare un fantino. Quando non riesce prova a chiedere a Mickey che pero` non vuole piu` montare un cavallo (per certe sue ragioni). Allora lei si taglia i lunghi boccoli,si veste da fantino (maschio, le femmine sono escluse) , vince la corsa e sviene. Il medico capisce subito che e` una donna e il cavallo viene squalificato. Per fortuna Elizabeth non viene indagata. Cosi` torna a casa felice; e rifiuta quanto suo padre le propone _(tourmees in USA a 5000 dollari + viaggio, etc). Alla fine Mickey Rooney dice di aver concluso il periodo a casa dei genitor, li salutai e se ne parte; e Elizabeth lo rincorre a cavallo e lo abbraccia teneramente. Un grande film con grandi interpreti: Elizabeth e Mickey ma anche Ann Revere e Donald Crisp. Da tenere assolutamente.

The DVD had a flaw but it would have cost more to return it than the purchase price (very high postal rates in Canada). I informed ImportCDs and their response was immediate. We can refund your money or send you a new copy - take your pick. Perfect - can't ask for better service than that.

Based on the 1935 children's book by Enid Bagnoid this highly glossed 1944 movie is so rich in both colour and sentiment that it could have easily gone overboard. However, everything is so perfectly balanced that only the most hardened viewer cannot be captivated by its dream-like story of a girl who believes that she can win the Grand National horse race with her beloved “The Pie”. Elizabeth Taylor – then only twelve years old – absolutely steals the entire movie for herself in what could have easily been a hammed performance by other child actors. Not only is she convincing when she talks of being able to achieve anything when one really believes in it but she also completely changes her character to one of almost petrified nervousness at the final race simply by just using body language! One can easily see that, like the character Velvet Brown that she plays, she is also bound for greatness! The movie is like a chocolate box because there are other great performances that add to the movie without distracting from the main plot. Donald Crisp and Anne Revere play the affectionate parents who constantly disagree with each other whilst lovingly addressing one another as “Mr” and “Mrs Brown”. Further droll comedy is provided by the hilarious Jackie “Butch” Jenkins as their youngest child, whilst a nineteen year old Angela Lansbury appears as Velvet's older sister, having just had a break-through with “Gaslight” that same year. In short, this is the kind of rich and wonderful dreamy movie that is not only perfect for Christmas but also whenever you need a pick-me-up.

National Velvet may well be the very best G Rated movie ever made. The only film I have seen which is as emotionally on a par is ET The Extra Terrestrial.