Elizabeth Taylor Passes at 79 years old …
I always loved Elizabeth Taylor in the movies.
But the movie that always come to mind when I think of Elizabeth Taylor is … NATIONAL VELVET
A wonderful story about a young girl, her friend and a horse. She was as perfect as Velvet Brown, as Vivien Leigh, was as Scarlett O’Hara.
Elizabeth will live on for us all in her wonderful movies, may she “Rest in Peace”
National Velvet is a 1944 film based on the novel byEnid Bagnold, published in 1935. It stars Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp and a young Elizabeth Taylor
In 2003 National Velvet was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
| 1944 MGM 125m (From Filmnight www.filmnight.org/velvet.htm)
Perhaps the only time Elizabeth Taylor’s costar matched her visual scene stealing. He’s a horse, albeit a gelding. One of MGM’s most loved films, NATIONAL VELVET was the picture that made a star out of Elizabeth Taylor. The place is Sussex, England, where radiant Velvet Brown (Taylor) win a horse that she names Pie and plans to enter him in the Grand National. With the help of Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney) she begins to rigorously train the animal, though she hasn’t the money to enter the National. But Velvet’s mother (Anne Revere) has been saving money she won as a young girl by swimming the English Channel, and she parts with it so Velvet can race. The movie features one of the best horse racing sequences ever filmed, as well as a host of winning performances. Although Taylor had already made her mark in four films, this was the one that really thrust her into the spotlight. Surprisingly she was not the first choice for the role, as Katharine Hepburn, Shirley Temple, and Margaret Sullavan were all canidates to play it. Look for Angela Lansbury, here she’s dreamy and romantic, English peaches and cream. And Jackie “Butch” Jenkins is an outstanding little brother, so ugly his cuteness makes you smile even hours after the movie. …………………………………………………………… |
National Velvet is the story of a twelve-year girl, Velvet Brown, living in Sewels, in Sussex, England, wins the “Pie.” in a raffle and aided by her father’s hired hand, Mi Taylor, trains the Pie for the Grand National, Steeplechase. She disguises herself as a male jockey and rides the horse to victory.
“National Velvet” is a must read for every horse lover…
A short excerpt from “National Velvet”…
“There he goes!” said Mi. The piebald was galloping below them, making as usual for the village. “Heavy galloper. Plunges as he goes.”
“He’s lovely,” breathed Velvet, simply. They started to run. Below them they could see a sweeper at the entrance to the village wave his broom at the horse.
The piebald leapt round him and galloped on. He disappeared between the first houses on the street. Soon he was out again, driven away by men and boys whom they could see standing by the sea wall, and headed up the curve of the Hullocks again, still galloping, his white mane and tail flying.
“Carthorse and Arab in that animal,” said Mi, pausing to look. The piebald tired on the steep hill and slowed to a trot, then stood still. He looked over his shoulder at the village below….”
2 Responses
Willa Frayser
Yes, every girls’ dream horse! I read the book, watched the movie and lived the story in my mind when I lived on the beach in Oregon! It probably made my heart race as much as when I met my husband (maybe more, but I wouldn’t tell him that!) Elizabeth Taylor was the right choice for Velvet Brown . . . she will be missed.
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