Hindsight

Classic Kids, or films the kids in your life must see, before they are 13 years old, or else!

Day Seven: National Velvet (1944, MGM) 

I remember seeing this film, in a revival, at the Majestic on State Street.  I wish they would show these films on bigger screens again.  Duck soup is doing a great job with the silent films.  Well... National Velvet, is another Technicolor film, made during the war like Meet me in St. Louis;  the blues, reds and greens alone will impress you.  It’s the Story of a young girl, Velvet, played by the most gorgeous child actor ever-Liz Taylor.   Velvet wants her horse to ride in the Grand National.  She is helped by Jockey,  Mi Taylor (Mickey Rooney.)  Velvet's horse is named "The Pie" (short for "Pirate”) 

 The great actress, Anne Revere, plays Velvet Brown’s mother.  Love the fact that the character of Mrs. Brown is noted for swimming the English Channel as a young woman.  Look for a young Angela Lansbury as Velvet’s sister.

Themes: personal goals and dignity, persistence, ethical treatment of animals.

Questions to ask:  How are Velvet and her mother alike?  What is the ultimate lesson Velvet and Mi learn?  What are your favorite scenes and why?  How did a film made in Hollywood look so British?