
National Velvet
1944 · Movie · G · 123 min · ★ 7.2 · 92% critics
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 Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1946
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1946
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1946 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1946 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Color · 1946 · nominated
Show all 7 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Art Direction, Color · 1946 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1946 · nominated
Cast & crew

Mickey Rooney
as Michael 'Mi' Taylor

Donald Crisp
as Mr. Herbert Brown

Elizabeth Taylor
as Velvet Brown

Anne Revere
as Mrs. Araminty Brown

Angela Lansbury
as Edwina Brown

Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
as Donald Brown

Juanita Quigley
as Malvolia 'Mally' Brown

Reginald Owen
as Farmer Ede

Norma Varden
as Miss Sims

Terry Kilburn
as Theodore 'Ted'
Directed by Clarence Brown