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Poster for National Velvet

National Velvet

Simple story of a boy... a girl... and a horse! Set to the thunder of the Grand National Steeplechase!

1945 · 2h 3m · Passed Drama, Family
Directed by Clarence Brown

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Overview

Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside home of the Brown family. The youngest daughter, Velvet, has a passion for horses and when she wins the spirited steed Pie in a town lottery, Mi is encouraged to train the horse.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh

Pandro Berman, the producer, and Clarence Brown, the director, have made it into a conservatively exciting and engaging film whose chief virtue is its acting, especially a letter-perfect, beautifully felt performance by Mickey Rooney as the jockey.

Manny Farber, The New Republic
Fresh

A good movie for kids and armchair Freudians.

Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Fresh

National Velvet is a horse picture with wide general appeal. The production also focuses attention on a new dramatic find -- moppet Elizabeth Taylor.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

This fresh and delightful Metro picture, based on Enid Bagnold's novel of some years back, tells by far the most touching story of youngsters and of animals since Lassie was coming home.

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Fresh

National Velvet is not merely sure to delight children and the child in most adults; it is also an interesting psychological study of hysterical obsession, conversion mania, preadolescent sexuality.

TIME Magazine

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