National Velvet (1944)

Clarence Brown received his fourth of five Best Director Oscar nominations (0 wins) for this early horse film much recycled & copied through the years. It features a lovely young Elizabeth Taylor playing opposite Mickey Rooney with excellent support provided by Donald Crisp Anne Revere (who won her only Oscar Supporting Actress out of three nominations) Angela Lansbury (in only her second film) Reginald Owen and Arthur Treacher. Taylor is the young girl who wins the special horse (the ‘Pie’) in the lottery Rooney the young man who helps train it for the Grand National Race. Revere is just perfect as Taylor’s mother Crisp his usual solid self as the father. Added to the National Film Registry in 2003. #24 on AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies list.

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