... (Does this rate as an autobiography?)
The Scottish actor (Alan Cumming) who was chosen as the voice of Black Beauty was an inspired choice, as his rich and rolling Scot’s accent lends itself admirably to the part, and brings to life the horse’s innermost thoughts and aspirations.
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Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of ... more
the Anna Sewellnovel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a ti...
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Don't waste this one on your children: buy it for yourself. A spectacular adaptation of ... more
the Anna Sewellnovel, this is faithful to the source material but creates a life of its own on the screen. Told from the point of view of the horse, it recalls a ti...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 3 weeks...
When a girl is given the horse of her dreams the pair form a bond of love and trust that ... more
will last forever. Polly and her Black Beauty share wondrous adventures and face hardship and danger with brother Bertie Merry Legs the pony and the other resid...
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Position: full sun or partial shadeSoil: moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, ... more
well-drained soilRate of Growth: averageFlowering period: JuneFlowers: pale pinkOther features: purple black autumn fruits are attractive to birdsHardiness: fully hardyThis fantastic new variety of elder has intense, black burgundy foliage and sweet, lemon scented, pale pink flowers in early summer, opening from dark red buds. Darker than other varieties it makes an excellent ornamental plant for a site in sun or partial shade. As an added bonus the purple black autumn fruits are highly attractive to songbirds. Garden care: To achieve the best foliage effect cut back to ground level each year in early spring and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant.Goes well with: Salix alba var vitellina, Trollius europaeus, Primula florindae, Carex elata'Aurea', Juncus effusus f.'Spiralis', Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans.
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This faithful adaptation of Anna Sewell's children's classic tells the adventures of a ... more
young boy and a spirited horse. Beginning life on a country estate the young colt Beauty is given away to cruel squire Sam Greene when he takes possession of the farm on which he lived.The horse then starts on an adventurous journey where he experiences the best and worst in human nature before finally being reunited with the boy who was his first friend.This is a classic and beautiful adaptation which the whole family will enjoy.
Black Beauty has to adapt to life with a series of different masters and grooms, some of ... more
them kindly but many of them cruel or thoughtless. He survives flood, fire and fever until he feels ready to die, but then he is taken to yet another horse sale.
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...chosen as the voice of Black Beauty was an inspired choice, as his rich and rolling Scot’s accent lends itself admirably to the part, and brings to life the horse’s innermost thoughts and aspirations.
You really get a feel for what it was like to be a horse in 19th century Britain, where their lot was not always an easy one, and where they often ended up in the “knacker’s yard” after a life of only hard work and ... ...the bleaker aspects of life. Black Beauty has some really nasty pieces of work as masters, but this serves to make his eventual happiness even more poignant.
You fear for his safety on several occasions, and the film doesn’t try to sanitise the horse’s hard way of life for the consumption of its younger viewers, which gives it more depth than your average film of this genre.
And, off course, you have the lovely horse to ... more
~ ~ Do any of you remember the TV series from years ago about this most famous of horses? He used to have different adventures every episode, and, off course, always ended up saving the day, as all heroes are almost obliged to do. There have been a lot of film adaptations of the original story from the book by author Anna Sewell, but this one by producer’s Peter MacGregor-Scott and Robert Shapiro must rate up there as one of the best. It was picked out of the children’s section of the local video shop by my wee lass over Christmas, and although I wasn’t really looking forward to it, not being a particularly “horsey” person by nature, (I had a nasty “run in” with one as a teenager!) I have to admit to having been fairly pleasantly surprised.
~ ~ The first surprise is that it really isn’t a story about a horse at all, but rather a story of the life of a horse as narrated by the horse itself. (Does this rate as an autobiography?) The Scottish actor (Alan Cumming) who was chosen as the voice of Black Beauty was an inspired choice, as his rich and rolling Scot’s accent lends itself admirably to the part, and brings to life the horse’s innermost thoughts and aspirations. You really get a feel for what it was like to be a horse in 19th century Britain, where their lot was not always an easy one, and where they often ended up in the “knacker’s yard” after a life of only hard work and drudgery.
~ ~ The storyline is fairly simple. It tells the life of a stallion from his birth (this was a good scene) through his formative years, and then on to his adult life. It even has the classic “boy rejected by girl” scene in his “teenage” years, that I’m fairly sure all of us (well, the fellas anyway) can relate to only too well! The camerawork was truly excellent, with some marvellous shots of the English countryside in the Autumn, contrasting starkly with the shots of city life in 19th century England, with all its dark, gloomy and depressing aspects. What makes the film even more interesting is the fact that it doesn’t try to gloss over some of the bleaker aspects of life. Black Beauty has some really nasty pieces of work as masters, but this serves to make his eventual happiness even more poignant. You fear for his safety on several occasions, and the film doesn’t try to sanitise the horse’s hard way of life for the consumption of its younger viewers, which gives it more depth than your average film of this genre. And, off course, you have the lovely horse to look at, if this is your kind of thing.
~ ~ I was rather surprised to have enjoyed this film so much, as did my wife and ten-year-old daughter, and I’ll keep my eyes open if it ever comes up on the Sky Movies listings, and try to get it on video for our collection.
Advantages: Lovely film that you watch again and agin. Disadvantages: Very sad!
...life of a horse called Black Beauty and begins when he is just a foal, out in the paddocks with his mother. As the story progresses, it tells of how the horse is sold from home to home, encountering good and bad experiences on the way. During these travels, he meets a young boy named Joe, someone he will remember for the rest of his life. Joe took care of him whilst working in a stable yard and they struck up a close bond. However one day the horse ... ...badly. However through these times, Black Beauty always remembered the times in the paddocks when he was a foal and when he was happy and how he wished he could be there with his mother once again.
The film is narrated from the horses point of view. This allows you to really know what the horse is feeling which is what brings the reality and sadness to the film. This film starring Sean Bean and David Thewlis, is the best adaptation that I have seen ...
spanna123 11.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Black Beauty (DVD)
...the story is told through Black Beauty's eyes. The film follows the story of Black Beauty from when he is born, through the various owners he has and the various other horses he comes into contact with and a lovely ending. Good acting, lovely scenery and beautiful and magnificent horses to admire. Well worth watching for all the family. ...
ElaineHosie332 14.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Black Beauty (DVD)
Advantages: Fantastic storyline, soundtrack, anal and human actors Disadvantages: Saw a crew member on an old version of the film that has since been corrected
...as Sean Bean, starring as Black Beauty's breeder and first owner.
The footage and older camera filming adds perfectly to the timed setting of the late 1800's. I have heard people complain in the past that Black Beauty has an english voice. My view is, if the film was created in america, he'd have an american voice. No difference really!
The bond between Joe, the clumsy, slightly thick stable boy, and Beauty, is a wonderful creation and reflection ... ...and humane living conditions, and how very different it is today. Black Beauty was wrritten in plight of the treatments horses, espeically working horses. Although this is the 5th version of the story, and as films are never exact to the film, it is the best ive seen. ...
oasispegasus 05.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Black Beauty (DVD)
Black Beauty is true to Anna Sewell's wonderful book, and the beautiful scenery and music enhance the story of Black Beauty's adventures with his friends. We laughed and cried in the same places during the movie as we did when reading the book. Thank you to all responsible for creating this movie and making one of our favorite stories come to life before our eyes!
I'm not big on animal movies, especially sad ones at times. I get too emotional. But ...
peter_chrichard 22.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Black Beauty (DVD)
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Most people will know the classic children's novel by Anna Sewell that tells of the adventures of a horse named BlackBeauty. I had enjoyed this as a child myself and will definitely share the book with my daughters when they are a bit older. In the meantime though, they have been watching the film that tells the classic story. There has been a more recent film made in 1994, but this is the original that was made in 1971 and stars Mark Lester (of Oliver fame). This film also manages to remain pretty true to the events in the book which always pleases me greatly.
BlackBeauty is an enjoyable and very clever story. It starts with when BlackBeauty is born and belongs to a small boy called Joe (Mark Lester). Unfortunately his father runs into financal difficulties and loses the farm along with BlackBeauty to the mean and nasty local ...
and Sam Mendes’ (Previously directed theatrical version of "Little Voice") superb cinema debut makes for probably the best movie of the year!
QUALITY OF PICTURE AND SOUND
Presented in full anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio. The transfer boasts a smooth, clean appearance with just a small bit of grain that actually enhances the film’s gritty textures. Conrad L. Hall’s almost surreal color palette, especially the vibrant reds which are in contrast to the drained palette used for the interiors in the film is brought forth expertly on this DVD. Hall’s expert use of light and shadow is in no way lost because of the superb resolution and black-level on this DVD.
Much of American Beauty's power comes from the careful balance between Thomas Newman's score and the dialogue, and this comes across well on the DVD ...
Advantages: You'll want to watch it again and again! Disadvantages: I can't think of any!
This DVD is great - All the best that Steve Coogan has to offer and more besides!
The scene is set as soon as you play the DVD the menu screen complete with alan prancing around to the theme tune of BlackBeauty is a classic in itself - that is worth 5 minutes viewing alone!
The story is set with Alan Gordon Partridge now living in the Linton Travel tavern - a rather bland motel which has the convenience of being equidistant between Norwich and London. Alan's wife has left him which is why he is there are he is working for Radio Norwich on the graveyard shift!
The indroduction of his tireless PA Lynn Benfield is a stroke of genius as it shows even more how cruel Alan can be and funny at the same time!
The series starts with esisode one - A Room with An Alan - one of the highlights of this episode comes right at the beginning ...
Interactive Menus, Scene Access, Trailer, Trailer, Image Gallery, Animated And Scored, Graphics
Aspect Ratio
1.85 Wide Screen, 4:3, 4:3 Full Frame
Sound
Dolby Surround, Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Surround Dutch English French Italian, Dolby Digital English
Professional reviews
Review
"...The elegant cast works well and sincerely.... Girls will inevitably love all this..." (Entertainment Weekly, p.38, 12/08/1994)
"...Rapturously pretty and filled with surprising passion....Thewlis is an arresting, eerily authentic actor..." (New York Times, p.C29, 29/07/1994)
"...The film is stunningly beautiful and affecting..." (Rolling Stone, p.63, 11/08/1994)
DVD Description
This fifth feature adaptation of Anna Sewell's classic 1877 novel comes to life, told from the point of view of Black Beauty himself -- who narrates the film. Set in England, Black Beauty (who has a British accent) tells us the details surrounding his birth, his "colt-hood", and his perception of humans, since he has various owners throughout his life. While some of these proprietors are caring and compassionate, others prove to be cruel and crude to the vulnerable Beauty, often placing him in life-threatening situations -- which he may or may not survive.
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