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Description: A young boy is determined to befriend a rebellious horse in this touching family film based on the celebrated novel by Mary O'Hara. Ten-year-old Ken McLaughlin (Roddy McDowall), who lives on the Goose Bar Ranch, desperately wants a colt of his own. Frustrated by the boy's constant daydreaming, Ken's father (Preston Foster) finally lets him choose any horse in the herd. Ken picks a beautiful filly whom he names Flicka, but the high-spirited animal comes from a "bad" bloodline that's considered to be hopelessly wild. To prove Flicka is worth keeping, and prove himself as a person, Ken sets his heart on winning the horse's confidence and ultimately taming her. Along the way, ken begins to grow up a little and everyone learns some important lessons, in this poignant tale of love, patience, faith, and "hope beyond hope".Amazon.com: This gorgeous 1943 family film stars Roddy McDowell as a Colorado rancher's son who takes a shine to a colt named Flicka and chooses to train her. The boy's father (Preston Foster) isn't happy about the idea: the horse is an offspring of a stormy mare who may not be right in the head. For a while, Flicka seems determined to prove the rancher's point, fiercely resisting young McDowell's efforts at domestication. But persistence and love win the day, and Flicka grows up to be a magnificent animal and friend. The film was shot by director Harold Schuster and cinematographer Dewey Wrigley as if for the ages, marrying such perfect elements as a Technicolor sweep of the beautiful Rocky Mountains setting with a wonderful story, plus McDowell's charismatic earnestness. Based on the Mary O'Hara novel, this film was popular enough in its time to inspire a couple of sequels, though the original best stands up as a perennially worthy adventure tale for kids ages 5 and up. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
- Awesome horses - less than awesome actors: Sorry, but I just cannot get past Roddy McDowall's English accent. He's supposed to be a Wyoming rancher's son, yet he speaks like a Brit. No one else in the entire movie speaks like a Brit so it comes off as really annoying. It ruins the whole movie for me.
PS - I love Roddy in nearly everything else I've ever seen him in - especially "How Green Was My Valley" - Classic: Roddy McDowall is an Icon in my book. Well made, well written. Great, classic coming of age/learning responsibility story. Excellent for the family.
- Thank you for handling the shipping error so timely: I will be looking again for more horse movies any good ideas you can e-mail me. Thanks
- NEW VERSION COMING SOON!!: Based on the novel by Mary O'Hara, My friend Flicka is set against the backdrop of a modern-day ranch in Wyoming. It tells the story of Katie (Alison Lohman), a teenager who dreams of running her family's ranch, much to the dismay of her father (Tim McGraw); his hopes are pinned on her older brother.
The original was great, so it will be wonderful to see what they can do with it. Not to mention Tim McGraw will be in it!! - A classic for all ages: Ken McLaughlin (Roddy McDowell) is a dreamy, soft-hearted rancher's son who just can't seem to please his gruff, practical-minded father (Preston Foster), no matter what he does. Ken's dilemma deepens when he rescues a sickly, semi-feral filly, Flicka (played as an adult by an American Saddlebred named Country Encino). Flicka is the offspring of a wild stallion called The Albino (played by Chuck) and certifiably insane mare, and Ken's father is afraid that the filly will follow in her parent's hoof-prints. But Ken is determined to nurse Flicka back to health, to train her - and, most importantly to Ken - to win her affection. High drama, but in a compelling setting.
Staci Layne Wilson
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