The Black Stallion

1979 • 117 minutes

About this movie

Alec Ramsey (Kelly Reno) and his father are on a ship that also contains a beautiful black stallion which is owned by a frightening Arab, Larbi. There is a fire oboard ship, and the boy and horse are soon in the water. Both wind up on a deserted island, where Alec and the stallion gradually establish contact and rapport. During the rescue the horse escapes. Back in the USA, Alec finds the horse at a farm owned by Mickey Rooney. Mickey trains the horse; Alec becomes a jockey. And there is a big race to be won... Director Carroll Ballard's unique camera eye, combined with a stunning score by Carmine Coppola, make this ravishing family film a unique experience for all audiences.

Ratings and reviews

Horses are one of the most beautiful charmers in the animal kingdom. Based on the 1941 novel and from the producers of "The Godfather," This film is about a daring young boy named Alec Ramsay in North Africa who became friends with a horse, but not just any horse, it's a magnificent feral horse with a legendary reputation. An Arabian black stallion. Alec (Kelly Reno) is captivated by horses as he gives some sugar cubes for the beautiful beast (Cass Ole). The shot where Alec peaks through the window to the inside and hearing the horse breathing heavily has overwhelmed my senses to make me realize that the horse is huge. Mr. Ramsey (Hoyt Axton) is Alec's father. He gave Alec a small statue of a Bucephalus that represents the black stallion, as he tells the story about the horse himself. This is where an awe-inspiring performance has been delivered, alongside the deep thorough dialogue that was smartly written, including the script. That provides gripping tension that sucked me in for something breathtaking with great anticipation. When Alec finally meets the stallion, the sight of this horse and the sounds that he made is breathtaking and made me feel wowed because of how imposing and magnificent this creature is. There is even a chilling scene involving a cobra. When Alec and the horse (that he calls "Black") became friends, it is utterly heart-warming and adorable in a way that is uplifting. They have a very lovable bond which is really enchanting to watch. They play together and help each other. When Black gallops really fast and swims in the water, it's a lot of fun and he is very graceful. One day, a group of fishermen has rescued Alec and Black to bring to America. This is where we meet a good friend named Snoe (Clarence Muse) and Henry Daily (Mickey Rooney), a retired horse jockey who is an absolute professional and eventually teaches Alec how to ride Black, and they both wondered "Is Black really the fastest horse?" This is where they get into training for the big race against the two great champions. The big race was an amazing thrill ride when I hear the rapid pounding of the horses hooves, the faces of the actors, and there is even a shot where you feel like you are riding on Black's back. The craftsmanship contains some imagery that delivers rousing moods that has gripped my attention and never lets go; The movie is directed by Carroll Ballard. His direction is superbly structured in terms of how it was shot, cut, and lit. He has structured the amazing timing for each and every scene at a different speed to deliver dynamic emotion. He also did a great job working with the cast to deliver some phenomenal acting. The movie has some of the best cinematography I have ever seen; every single image that was shot by Caleb Deschanel is something that an artist will be inspired by (by the way I am also an artist as well). The screenplay by Melissa Mathison has delivered some emotional execution; There are some close-up shots of body parts that are an asset of emotional storytelling because it shows how thorough the screenplay is. The animal trainers were amazing at making the animals on set become great superstars as they followed the script without abusing them or harming them. The powerful soundtrack has some sounds that are mostly rich and thunderous. The dynamic and effective music score by Carmine Coppola was a powerful support for the storytelling of the movie depending on the mood, and Carmine reflected the entire movie superbly with beautiful results. In Conclusion: beautifully striking and emotionally engaging, "The Black Stallion" is a glorious triumph that will enchant every family; The expertly crafted storytelling and the uplifting friendship between Alec and Black will especially delight the kids and adults. Highly Recommended!

There is a movie within the movie, a boy and a horse stranded on the remote beach., and it is among the greatest works of cinema of all time. The story, needing no words, is archetypal, an almost familiar dream/fantasy, of boys, children and adults. Given such perfect raw material perhaps any director could have done well with it but the vision of director Ballard, allowing it to unfold, wordless, for 25 minutes and the art of the captured images in partnership with cinematographer Deschanel is perfection, genius.

A perfect blend of freedom, love, and drive that created one of the best timeless movies I have ever seen in my lifetime. This story makes you fall in love with a boys passion for gaining the trust and caring for this beautiful black stallion.