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National Velvet

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

NATIONAL VELVET is the poignant family story that made a young Elizabeth Taylor a star. Taylor excels as Velvet Brown, a 1920s working-class girl whose dreams of owning her own horse become a reality when she wins Pie, a wild and unruly horse, in a raffle. With the help of Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney), a skittish, gun-shy ex-jockey, Velvet trains Pie to be a race champion despite the wishes of her loving but cautious parents (Donald Crisp and Ann Revere). Velvet's determination pays off, and the Brown family (including Angela Lansbury as Edwina, Velvet's sophisticated older sister) pools its money and enters the family pride and joy in the prestigious Grand National race, only to have its hopes dashed when the rider renegs--leading Velvet to do something extraordinary. This uplifting adaptation of Enid Bagnold's novel features stunning photography of coastal England and acclaimed crosscut editing that heightens the tension in the famous race scene. Young costars Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney are fabulous together, full of youthful charm and exuberance, ably supported by a first-rate ensemble cast.
Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress 1945 Anne Revere American Character Actress
Academy Awards Best Film Editing 1945 Robert J. Kern American Editor
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 65063
Credits

Elizabeth Taylor, Liz Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Joe Yule, Mickey McGuire, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere, Angela Lansbury, Jackie Jenkins, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, Terry Kilburn, Terence Kilburn, Norma Varden, Arthur Shields, Dennis Hoey, Aubrey Mather, Billy Bevan, Matthew Boulton, Colin Campbell, William Austin, Moyna MacGill, Donald Curtis, Alec Craig, Eugene Loring, Frederic Worlock, Harry Allen, Barry Maccollum, Leyland Hodgson, Leonard Carey, Frank Benson, Wally Cassell, Alec Hartford, Gera
Critic Reviews

5 stars out of 5 -- "Top-billed Mickey Rooney was never better as the horse trainer on the make, but even he is bested by the passionate conviction of exquisite, 12 year-old Elizabeth Taylor, utterly enchanting as Velvet Brown."
Empire