When I was a little girl, I was in love with horses. I thought they were majestic, beautiful, powerful, yet kind animals. I used to go riding with my girlfriend whenever we could across the dusty trails across the desert in Phoenix. We snuck in a full gallop as often as the owners would allow. I used to dream about jumping over fences and hedges. I wondered what that would feel like deep inside. I never got the chance, but I watched horse races whenever I could and imagined I was the jockey leading my horse to victory. This was one of my secret passions hidden within my soul. I can’t remember the first time I saw Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney in the film, NATIONAL VELVET. I was mesmerized. I could not take my eyes off The Pi (short for Pirate). I knew he was meant for fame and glory just like his descendant, Seabiscuit. The film proved that “greatness is only a season for opportunity.”
NATIONAL VELVET was released in 1944. It won two Oscars for Best Editing and Best Supporting Actress for Anne Revere as Mrs. Brown. The racing sequence at the Grand Nationals was the reason for the editing award. It was breathtakingly put together, and sheer perfection for the times. Mrs. Brown’s husband, Donald Crisp, was excellent as well. The two of them would banter back and forth about everything, always calling each other Mr. Brown or Mrs. Brown. (Never using their character’s first names until the final scenes) It was like watching a private tennis match back and forth that Mrs. Brown always had the upper edge and wisdom.
Mickey Rooney had to film all his scenes in just one month since he was drafted for the war and had a deadline to report to duty. He would not return to Hollywood for two years. This was Elizabeth Taylor’s first feature film at the age of 12. She was accidentally thrown from Pi and broke her back during filming. She healed quickly and was back to riding, but later in life until her death, her back would give her tremendous pain every day. The Pi was gifted to Elizabeth after the movie. She and the horse were best friends. She kept Pi until he died when she was 23.
NATIONAL VELVET is a classic adventure film. It is inspirational. Audiences are privy to witnessing a young girl’s huge dream that was unheard of at the time. Girls just didn’t ride a horse in the Grand Nationals, which consisted of thirty jumps and almost a five-mile course. Or can they? This film planted a seed that girls can do anything they set their minds to, even when society is not quite ready. NATIONAL VELVET gave me permission in my childhood to dream big. All any of us must do is listen, and then work your hardest to make it happen. Velvet always believed in herself and The Pi. Everyone needs a bit of “folly” in their lives, especially when greatness lies just below the surface bursting and daring the universe to be released. Here’s to yours…
NATIONAL VELVET is available on TCM.
