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National Velvet

1944 · Movie · G · 123 min · ★ 7.2 · 92% critics

DramaFamily

In the English countryside, a horse-mad girl’s quiet life changes when her family takes in a drifting young man. After she unexpectedly wins a spirited horse, she persuades him to help train it, turning a lucky break into a bold attempt at something far bigger than anyone expects.

Based on National Velvet

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Details
Years
1944
Release date
1945-01-26
Language
English
Rated
G
Runtime
123 min
Critic score
92/100
TMDB rating
7.2/10 (123 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a wholesome, heart-tugging family story about chasing a dream with a beloved animal and a mentor figure; Not for you if you dislike tearjerkers or slower classics like The Yearling.

Pros: warm-hearted family charm; inspiring underdog drive; exciting race sequences | Cons: very sentimental tone; talky and overlong; dated, old-fashioned feel

Themes

  • countryside
  • england
  • horseback riding
  • horse race
  • human animal relationship
  • horse
  • jockey
  • horse racing
  • horse trainer
  • grand national
  • 1920s
  • afi
  • +1 more

Awards & recognition

  • Academy AwardBest Supporting Actress · 1946
  • Academy AwardBest Film Editing · 1946
  • Academy AwardBest Film Editing · 1946 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Director · 1946 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Cinematography, Color · 1946 · nominated
Show all 7 awards →
  • Academy AwardBest Art Direction, Color · 1946 · nominated
  • Academy AwardBest Supporting Actress · 1946 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Clarence Brown