http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sHp_vHofvY
Here is 40 seconds of another “Grand National” courtesy of youtube.
- or this one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfocQfCL5io
The First Saturday in May
Well, hubby and I went to see this at the Cleveland Film Festival. It made both of us laugh, and both of us cry (which is not easy for the SO). It is a wonderfully paced, thrilling, and hilarious ride. It gets four hooves up and it got a standing ovation in Cleveland, which it deserved.
It goes to the very top of my movie list, period, let alone a horse movie.
Nancy
[QUOTE=NMK;3082708]
It goes to the very top of my movie list, period, let alone a horse movie.[/QUOTE]
Good to hear about that with First Saturday in May!
In the realm of documentaries there are others like
On The Muscle: Portait of a Thoroughbred Racing Stable - shot in 2001/2002 and released in 2005 featuring a “young” The Tin Man 
Laffit:All About Winning - narrated by Kevin Costner
HAHAHAHAHA:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
There are so many great moments in The First Saturday In May, I would not know where to begin. I do not want to spoil it for anyone. Suffice it to say the trainers are as diverse as the colors of horses running that year. And some of the comments from their families and children are priceless.
If you get a chance, see it on the big screen. It will be well worth it.
Nancy
[QUOTE=pinkdiamondracing;3049029]
Casey’s Shadow-- saw it in the theater when I was about seven. It still is one of my favorites, and I wish I had it on DVD. Other than that, I would have to say Phar Lap–what a tearjerker[/QUOTE]
Hey, me too! I was on vacation somewhere and we did that because it was raining out. I’m sure I would think it was cheezy now, but it was great then!
Sandra
Hollywood Type of Racing films:
Phar Lap
Ruffian
Black Stallion
Seabiscuit
National Velvet
Champions
Re: First Saturday in May documentary and theater release/distribution …
Churchill Downs Inc. has partnered with Truly Indie and filmmakers John and Brad Hennegan to distribute their award-winning documentary “The First Saturday in May” to U.S. theaters for a week-long national run in 18 major markets starting April 18. A special one-night Louisville premiere is scheduled for April 13 at the Louisville Palace Theatre.
[QUOTE=TwoArabs;3050282]
I love all those movies but what still can bring tears to my eyes is the you tube 73 belmont where Secretariat takes the triple crown. when the announcer says he is runnibg like a tremendous machibe I lose it.[/QUOTE]
Hi don’t mean to intrude , just lurking over from the Hunter Jumper threads… Had to comment… I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT RACE … My Heart didn’t beat, I didn’t Breath , the whole world stood still and he just kept cruising and cruising and cruising, it was if there was no other horse out there with him … Will thier ever be another horse like him… I don’t think so.
[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;3085671]
First Saturday in May documentary and theater release/distribution …[/QUOTE]
One of the Hennegan brothers was on a radio call in program and he said that while the movie release is slated for just one week the film will stay in theaters if the box office receipts are good enough to stay longer.
Worth noting is that Lexington KY will have the movie aired there ( www.kentuckytheater.com ) starting April 18th so hopefully if it stays a bit longer they might get some uplift from Keeneland and Rolex 3-Day.
Luckily for me it will be shown in Chicago in a theater not too far away
Official list of theaters to air the movie
With the DVD they will start taking orders just prior to the Kentucky Derby and ship them out a couple weeks after the first Saturday in May. So you’d get a copy before the Belmont Stakes.
Glimmer and others, if you can, see this movie on a big screen. I had forgotten how absolutely stunning some of these colts are, Lawyer Ron in particular. But rememer the movie is just as much about the people in the horse’s lives as it is the horses themselves. But oh, on the big screen they are spectacular.
Enjoy
NMK
I am glad to see it is going to play here! I had looked at the site and they didn’t mention us yet. Plus I love that old movie theatre.
Ditto to all this
[QUOTE=Tiramit;3049535]
I’m kind of shocked that the Black Stallion is below some of the others. For artistic purposes and glorious pan shots alone it should be higher up, not to mention that lump in my throat I always get during the final race!
Casey’s Shadow biased me against white footed horses, LOL. Every time I see one, particularly a chestnut, I hear Walter Mathau singsonging “4 white socks cut off its nose and feed it to the crows…”
Phar Lap. So sad. Seabiscuit, National Velvet and A Day at the Races are all great (I like old movies). Champions is awesome if not a bit, well, British. I have the Aldaniti race on DVD and it’s awesome.
Let it Ride should be on the list![/QUOTE]
I have never seen Let it ride, but The Black Stallion has the BEST racing racing even on screen. And Champions is awesome. I have that on vhs.
and another thing…
[QUOTE=TwoArabs;3050282]
I love all those movies but what still can bring tears to my eyes is the you tube 73 belmont where Secretariat takes the triple crown. when the announcer says he is runnibg like a tremendous machibe I lose it.[/QUOTE]
My niece, who was the same age as my late great Dr. Pepper, was born at the end of April in 1973. I have often thought about her being less than two weeks old when Secretariat began his Triple Crown roll. I agree it makes me tear up when I hear it. I watched it all on tv and to prove I couldn’t pick a winner in a two horse race, my horse was Sham!!! [course I wan’t a bit disappointed!!!] I don’t think anyone will ever beat his time, do you?
“Champions” is my favorite horse racing movie ever. I cannot watch it without bawling my eyes out when Bob Champion and Aldaniti are leading. Through my tears, I’m yelling at the screen for them to keep going, even though I’ve seen it dozens of times and I saw the race on the day.
In fact, it was that race that led me to fall in love with the Grand National. I was 6 years old and my parents and I were watching the race. When it was coming to the conclusion, we were all in tears. My parents because they had followed the story and me because the horse I’d chosen, Royal Mail, wasn’t going to win!!!:lol: It was only later that I read about Bob Champion and saw the movie.
I saw First Saturday in May when it premiered at the Tribeca Film Fest in NYC last summer, I can’t remember if I posted about it here, but it was an extremely well made piece of work, it surpassed my expectations in many ways – being it was a documentary based on horse racing at one of the top film festivals in the country, I was really surprised to find out that all shows were sold out, not only was every seat in the theatre filled, there were a long line of people who had been waiting in line patiently hoping to get tickets the day of the showing were turned away.
The Hennegan brothers are really cool, awsome guys. They have such a passion for horses and the sport, all very evident in the film; it’s really nice to see how this is all turning out for them. I also thought the way they handled the closing of the film, regarding Barbaro, was pure class, just as what they’re doing with 25% of the box office the opening week – donating to equine research.
[QUOTE=Lcsd114;3107751]
“Champions” is my favorite horse racing movie ever. I cannot watch it without bawling my eyes out when Bob Champion and Aldaniti are leading. Through my tears, I’m yelling at the screen for them to keep going, even though I’ve seen it dozens of times and I saw the race on the day.
In fact, it was that race that led me to fall in love with the Grand National. I was 6 years old and my parents and I were watching the race. When it was coming to the conclusion, we were all in tears. My parents because they had followed the story and me because the horse I’d chosen, Royal Mail, wasn’t going to win!!!:lol: It was only later that I read about Bob Champion and saw the movie.[/QUOTE]
I’m with you and the others on Champions. I stand up screaming and crying, urging him on. every time. It’s a beautifully done film, the opening scenes of the horses galloping has me crying right from the start. The fact that it is actually the incredible Aldaniti himself makes it even more special. That’s HIM!
My sister had just died of cancer when the film came out, and it made it more poignant and painful at the time.
I love National Velvet, loved The Black Stallion - in all of these horse movies there has to be ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ - but it doesn’t make them any less moving or meaningful.
When little Elizabeth Taylor is telling her dad why she won’t send Pie to the US " when I asked him, he broke his heart for me"… I just bawl. It was also a very powerful wartime movie, showing the strength, courage and determination of the Brits - against the odds.
Seabiscuit too was beautifully done. Very evocative of the times, not just sentimental, but gave a real idea of the importance that horse had in the lives of so many people.
I can’t watch Pharlap, more than the once. I hate it when the horse dies, or when you know what is going to happen.
Secretariat’s Belmont stretch run? always incredible, amazing. I stand and stare and hold my breath the whole time, and of course cry my eyes out.
thanks for posting the list, it makes for a fun discussion. I’m all tearful now, thinking of these wonderful movies.
