[.ca] National Velvet (Full Screen)

Amazon.com Essential Video:
This classic family film made a star of 12-year-old Elizabeth Taylor in the title role as spunky Velvet Brown, a girl who's determined to enter her horse, Pie, in the Grand National Steeplechase. Critic Pauline Kael called it "One of the most likeable movies of all time." Mickey Rooney costars as a young man who helps Velvet train Pie for the big race. At the last minute, Velvet herself has to ride Pie in the tournament and cuts her hair to pass for a jockey. Anne Revere won an Oscar as Velvet's mother, as did editor Robert J. Kern, who cut together a terrifically exciting horse race. Donald Crisp and Angela Lansbury are also featured as members of the Brown family. --Jim Emerson

Wonderful film; average DVD release:
It had been years since I'd watched National Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, until picking up this DVD recently. The film was as good as I remembered, if not more so now that I can view it with some measure of nostalgia for youthful innocence and the power of dreams. As Velvet Brown, an 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor glows on screen and brings to the role of a girl in love with horses all the wistfulness and energy that could be desired. Mickey Rooney is also excellent as a young wandering man (Mi Taylor) whose tragic backstory eventually reveals itself in an emotional, if somewhat overwrought, scene between these two characters. The chemistry between Rooney and Taylor is unmistakable and gives weight to the trust and friendship that develops between Velvet and Mi. Although Velvet is too young to be concerned with boys in a romantic sense, the viewer gets the sense that these two are equals and truly respect each other. It's refreshing to see a friendship between a boy and girl portrayed so well. This film succeeds in telling a heartwarming and life-affirming story of how a dream come true can change a life forever. For Velvet's mother, it was swimming the English Channel as a young woman. For her daughter, Velvet, it is winning a spirited horse, the Pie, and training him (with Mi's guidance) to race in the Grand National Steeplechase. In fact, some of the film's most poignant and graceful scenes occur between Velvet and her mother, played by Anne Revere. Mrs. Brown is a fount of wisdom for Velvet and shows great love and support for her daughter's dream by supplying the needed entry money for the horse race from her own winnings from her swim across the Channel years before. This is a film to love for its many pleasures, such as a memorable cast (including a young Angela Lansbury as Velvet's older, boy-crazy sister), pastoral setting, and beautifully told story. It's a true classic and not one to miss. However, this DVD release is not quite worthy of the film. It deserves a cleaner transfer. One scene in particular is out of focus. There are no extra features or commentary that would make viewing the film a richer experience. But, for the price, it is worth picking up to watch for now, while we hope and wait for a better release someday.

Poor treatment of a classic:
"National Velvet" is a wonderful movie, for all ages. Frankly, I'd consider it one of the best "sports" movies ever made. Sadly, Warner Brothers DVD release leaves a lot to be desired. The picture frequently goes out of focus, and the disc is bare-bones....not even the trailer \opromised on the DVD jacket\c is included. With Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney still around, you would have thought they'd have either interviewed them, or gotten a commentary track from them for this classic. It would be worth the price to get a "special edition" release. Until then, I guess we're stuck with this sorry disk.

Not to be missed:
Clarence Brown was one of those accomplished American directors who never seemed to get the credit he deserved. This project is certainly his masterpiece. It's usually hyped as a children's picture but it works at all age levels: the apotheosis of the "family" movie. Mickey Rooney delivers the best performance of his amazing career; he should be next on the "lifetime achievment" list of the American movie academy. Brown also extracted equally compelling performances from Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Crisp and Anne Revere; in fact the entire cast. Taylor is a young English girl transported by her love of hayburners and her pure happiness is the central theme of the movie, a subject you don't see treated much anymore. Highly recommended.

National Velvet--Required for all School Curriculums:
This is not just a magnificent cinematic masterpiece, but tells the story of how to have a successful life! Wonderful scenes depicting what a great marriage and parenting is all about--Mother Anne Revere received an Oscar for her performance here. Just heard Liz Taylor on Larry King recently state that she actually rode the horse in all the scenes, no stunt doubles. She said, "I had to do it, everyone was afraid of the horse, but me". She was given the horse as a gift after the filming wrapped. Larry asked her "which movie did you enjoy making the most?". She quickly replied, "National Velvet, of course".

Horse Crazy!:
National Velvet is a sweet, inspiring film that will forever be a wonderful classic. Elizabeth Taylor (Velvet Brown) and Mickey Rooney (Mi Taylor) did an incredible job portraying their characters. Elizabeth Taylor only twelve years old, plays the part of a horse crazy little girl who is bound and determined that her horse (Pie) can when the Grand National Steeplechase. Although Pie was not originally her horse, it was enduring to watch how Velvet acquired the 16 hands, 6 foot jumping horse and how small of chance she had to win him. Mickey Rooney played a wonderful role of a frighten ex-jockey who in the beginning did not want any part of the horse business after an accident early in his career. With a spirited young girl, a wonderful horse that was thought to be no good, and an ex-jockey that tried too hard to stay away from horses, a winning story was sure to be produced. Velvet's family also played an important role as her mother (Academy Award winner Anne Revere), the quick tongue lady who could always convince her husband otherwise and Velvet's siblings, that put an emphasis on typical sibling relationships. For it's time, when this film was produced, it was outstanding (Academy Award winning) and now it is even more outstanding. People of all ages can enjoy this film because it's heartwarming with a touch of comedy that seeps into the heart of everyone.