Rumblings on the Secretariat movie

[Glimmerglass]

There have been plans on and off for years with doing a movie on Secretariat. Example: June 2001 - “… movie tentatively planned for next year” well that was 7 years ago

That said there was more serious talk last year that Chennery and Bill Nack each might be working closer towards using Nack’s book on Big Red. One truly hopes, no correct that make that requires the film be more on par with Seabiscuit then Nack’s nice, but nothing wonderful, made-for-tv movie Ruffian. The former reflected a budget of $60 million the latter was only a notch above an episode of Wildfire.

Sadly I am seeing a mention of Disney (which means ABC Films/ESPN and they did Ruffian) vs. something like Universal or Dreamworks.

So here is what’s out there:

Orlando Sentinel - Entertainment - August 12, 2008

If Seabiscuit’s worth a film, why not the greatest horse of them all?, “Big Red?”

Randall Wallace is on board to direct a bio-pic about Secretariat and his owner, Penny Chenery, for Disney. Inspiring story of a woman who knows nothing about horses who takes over a horse farm and lightning strikes, giving her a super horse.

Interesting departure for Wallace, who scripts actioners and directed We Were Soldiers, Mel Gibson’s Vietnam pic. And while it won’t have that “abandoned little guy” allegory of Seabiscuit going for it (people who own racing farms aren’t exactly poor), it could be sweet.

Talkin’ Horses (BloodHorse) 8-27-08

Q: Any clues on the upcoming Secretariat movie? It seems as though the first announcements said that Nack’s work was the core, but now it sounds as though the movie is a Penny Chenery biopic. What’s the scoop?

Steve Haskin:
Nack did include some bio stuff on Penny Chenery, but I understand the movie focuses around her and the old standby racing movie plot – daughter comes home to save farm after father either dies or in this case becomes gravely ill. Daughter races superhorse to win the Kentucky Derby and saves farm. It was a formula that worked in the 1930s with “Kentucky” starring Loretta Young and Walter Brennan and continued to be successful after that. This time, however, it was pretty much true. I’m sure a good deal of the film was based on Nack’s book, but Chenery had some issues with the book when it first came out, mainly how it portrayed her, so who knows?

Back in 2003/2004 Penny Chenery on Secretariat.com made this remark:

[a movie being done] is only a question of details: whose version of his life and career, and of mine, will be used for the script, and what production company will buy the screen rights. There will definitely be a movie. Stay Tuned!

We’ll see what happens, if anything, with this project, but I’d hate to see another lackluster film produced.

[Beezer]

Can my Secretariat grandson try out for a part?? Because, you know, anything he can do to help underwrite his own hay bill will be happily accepted! :lol:

[Jumpin_Horses]

![]( got a grandaughter! shes the spitting image! and a camera ham!

[IMG]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/BearFooteFarm/Bunny/bunny11.jpg)

[IMG]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/BearFooteFarm/Bunny/bunny4.jpg)

[IMG]http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g305/BearFooteFarm/Bunny/bunny10.jpg)

[Glimmerglass]

From Variety Magazine

Wallace saddles up for ‘Secretariat’
Director joins Mike Rich-scripted Disney film

By MICHAEL FLEMING, Aug. 11, 2008

Randall Wallace is saddling up at Disney to direct “Secretariat,” the Mike Rich-scripted film about the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse and its owner, Penny Chenery.

Last year, Disney acquired the rights to Chenery’s life story. The film is being produced by Mayhem Pictures partners Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray (Daily Variety, May 8, 2007).

Chenery was a mother and housewife who knew little about horses when she was pressed to take over her ailing father’s horse farm in Virginia. Though Secretariat came along and began to take shape as a potential champion, Chenery was pressured to sell the farm after her father died and she was hit with a multimillion-dollar inheritance tax.

She saved both the farm and the horse, and watched as Secretariat became the first thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown in 25 years, taking the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in dominating fashion. Chenery became known as the “first lady of racing.”

The studio’s hope is to get the picture to the starting gate early next year.

The “Braveheart” scribe last directed “We Were Soldiers” in 2002.

Mayhem Pictures - projects done

None of the works by Mayhem are winners - example The Rock as an NFL Player with an 8-yr old daughter, eh … great.

[Glimmerglass]

No objections to her acting ability, but I just don’t “connect” Diane with being Penny

Variety June 11, 2009 “Diane Lane takes reins of ‘Secretariat’”

Diane Lane is set to star in “Secretariat,” the Disney film about the relationship between the 1973 Triple Crown-winning racehorse and his owner, Penny Chenery.

Randall Wallace is directing the film this fall from a script by Mike Rich.

Mayhem partners Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray are producing.

While Secretariat showed potential before the horse became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, Chenery’s rise to become “first lady of racing” was the real underdog story.

Lane will play Chenery, a mother and housewife who knew little about horse racing when she took over her ailing father’s farm in Virginia.

[Mara]

I can’t see it working without taking some major liberties with things as they were.
For example, I don’t think the Chenery kids were in imminent danger of becoming homeless if they hadn’t had Secretariat to syndicate. The horse himself had no humble beginnings, no obstacles to overcome, no tragic ending on the track. None of the things that grab the non-racing folk by the heartstrings, so to speak.

[DickHertz]

[QUOTE=Mara;4159225]
I can’t see it working without taking some major liberties with things as they were.
For example, I don’t think the Chenery kids were in imminent danger of becoming homeless if they hadn’t had Secretariat to syndicate. The horse himself had no humble beginnings, no obstacles to overcome, no tragic ending on the track. None of the things that grab the non-racing folk by the heartstrings, so to speak.[/QUOTE]

Secretariat is an American Icon. People will watch it, even the people who could care less about horseracing today.

[Glimmerglass]

[QUOTE=Mara;4159225]
I can’t see it working without taking some major liberties with things as they were. … None of the things that grab the non-racing folk by the heartstrings, so to speak.[/QUOTE]

I’m sure that Penny will have some degree of sign-off on the final presentation. If they go overboard and she’s not happy (which would become news) that alone could sink it and the millions poured into making it. Keeping her and the fans of the horse happy are paramount. The movie, as they’ve tried to make clear, isn’t a horse story and Secretariat while the title and a key figure isn’t expected to be the center of it.

My guess is they are going to hold Penny up as a woman raised of a different era who was somewhat pressed into a leading role, brought in smart folks to fill in the gaps, had some luck and with the media coverage became a women’s lib era bright spot.

Some story elements - her father, Christopher Chenery, suffered from Alzheimers but few at the time knew that and his poor decisions went unchecked for several years. She had an unhappy marriage. There were (with her father’s estate) the pressing tax issues, etc.

Few know of Christopher Chenery and his self-made success which allowed for Penny and her brothers to live a lavish life for a time. A good read on Penny and her life - here from 2007:

I still think the true life story of Exterminator and the world around him with his exceedingly colorful owner, the horse’s racing record, his massive popularity and the roaring 20’s era would all make for a better movie then any other horse-based one.

[lesson_junkie]

How can they just ignore Riva and the rest of the wonderful Meadow horses? Riva always seems to get the short end.

And how will they find a horse to “be” Secretariat? As a confirmed Secretariataholic, I’m not sure I’ll be able to suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy the movie. Plain little bay Seabiscuit was one thing, but the horse that God built?

[Laurierace]

Well I imagine he is a little busy now but I was struck with how much Curlin resembled Secretariat in build and coloration. He was the first horse I have ever seen on the track that literally took my breath away.

[JER]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4159338]
I’m sure that Penny will have some degree of sign-off on the final presentation. [/QUOTE]

Not likely at all.

When you sell the rights to your life story, you don’t get to control the outcome.

[Mara]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;4159338]

I still think the true life story of Exterminator and the world around him with his exceedingly colorful owner, the horse’s racing record, his massive popularity and the roaring 20’s era would all make for a better movie then any other horse-based one.[/QUOTE]

Completely agree! I’ve thought that for a long time.

[DLee]

I can actually see Diane Lane playing the part. Plus she has some pretty good name draw now. I wanna be an extra. :yes:

[Charmb]

Exterminator movie idea

Loved that thought. When I first read his story “Old Bones”, i was a youth, and was smitten with the old boy and his incredible determination, and pony buddy. Char

[Mara]

Dare I suggest. . .

A movie based on Marguerite Henry’s version on Black Gold’s story. But what a downer it would be. I was 8 when I first read the book, and oh, boy, did I cry. Never saw the ending coming. I cried so much I think my mom regretted getting me the book.

[JER]

[QUOTE=Mara;4160418]
A movie based on Marguerite Henry’s version on Black Gold’s story. [/QUOTE]

Hollywood beat you to it – in 1947. Starring Anthony Quinn.

imdb entry – Black Gold

(I actually saw this movie on TV, when I was about 6.)

[hitchinmygetalong]

A quick story:

A few years ago, I was doing the “show the out of towners a good time” thing here in Lexington, and as they were horse people (Morgan), I did the whole shebang. One of the must-sees was the Horse Park, so off we went. Got in the main entrance and veered off to gawk at the Secretariat statue, and there was a natty gent standing there handing out photos. Turns out he was Secretariat’s exercise “boy”, and the photos were of him on the Big Red Machine. He signed photos for all of us and sent us on our way with a tip of his hat. Very, very cool experience.

As for a movie, well, it sounds like a good project, though the thought of “Mayhem Productions” producing it is a little… disconcerting. :lol: Can totally see Diane Lane playing the part.

[LaurieB]

@JER;4160056

Not likely at all.

When you sell the rights to your life story, you don’t get to control the outcome.

As with everything else, it depends what your contract says. She may have script approval, or she may not.

I think Diane Lane would be great in the part.

[Calamber]

Well, just cause I love him and made him my “pinup boy” (not really but I still have the newspaper clippings from his win over Mountain Dew in the Maryland Grand National), I vote for a movie about Jay Trump! Well, I can go with Exterminator too. I just about cried though when I saw certain really poor scenes in the Seabiscuit movie (one of them that War Admiral was a black giant!), I realize it was more about the human drama of the depression. I did love Jeff Bridges portrayal of Mr. Howard, and the jockeys were excellent. Why can they not hire producers who know something about racing history, or maybe they can make some older trainer much more active in the making?

I could not stand the Flicka movie, really dislike most of the racing movies I have seen and would just love to see one that is accurately portrayed, (have to add that Champion has been the best thus far). Am I delusional? I cannot imagine how a movie could be called “Secretariat” and the horse not be central to all of the characters lives. Ask Penny Chenery what happened to her life as a result of this horse.

[Glimmerglass]

As for the actress to play Penny, per the previously cited would-be movie rumblings back in 2001, actress Glenn Close was interested, but Penny nixed it. Maybe it was the idea of Ms. Close being her after portraying Cruella DeVile and before that the crazy lover in Fatal Attraction with the bunny in the cookpot that did it

Chenery denied reports that a made-for-television movie about Secretariat was in the works in which Glenn Close would play Chenery. She said representatives of Close contacted her about acquiring film rights for the story but she refused, pending other options.

(Made for TV movies like Ruffian on ABC/ESPN and the optioned-but-not-made Funny Cide movie for TNT (Turner Network Television) just are a risk as the required low budgets just show easily)

Penny’s remark then is just as valid 8 years later …

Could the story of Secretariat once again capture the imagination of the American public as it did in 1973 … Chenery is practical about the idea.

“It would all depend on the quality of the movie,” she said.