At 08:36:57 on 25.04.09, Rahara wrote:
This is one of my favourites also Black Beauty showing my age now. not sure if Elizabeth rode horse in real life.

At 15:29:51 on 25.04.09, picsnicky wrote:
Yes, apparently Elizabeth did ride in real life.......She was born in London in 1932 to prosperous American parents and spent her early childhood in England. When the Second World War loomed ominously in 1939, her parents found it expedient to return to the States. Elizabeth took with her an English accent and a knowledge of horse-riding. On being told by many people that Elizabeth was an unusually beautiful child, Elizabeth's mother negotiated a contract for her daughter at Universal Studios. However, it was MGM who gave Elizabeth her big break. For the female lead in "Lassie Come Home" they needed a young girl who sounded English, was not particularly tall and could ride a horse. They needed the ten-year old Elizabeth Taylor. MGM gave Elizabeth the part. They also gave her a contract and a run of commercially successful films where her co-stars were animals and other children. (In one of the 'extras' on the DVD of "A Place In The Sun", Elizabeth says "my leading men before had been dogs and horses".) Back at MGM and in Technicolor, a twelve-year-old Elizabeth Taylor managed a miraculous growth spurt to win the role of Velvet Brown, a young English girl in love with a horse, in NATIONAL VELVET (1944). A riding veteran from the age of four, Taylor did her own riding for the film and most of her own stunts......

At 16:23:00 on 25.04.09, Horse Girl wrote:
Is National Velvet worth a watch?

At 16:27:57 on 25.04.09, Horse Girl wrote:
If the video Rahara posted was from the movie I would think it is well worth watching. What a truly amazing horse and great filming, completely moving.

At 20:02:46 on 25.04.09, Rahara wrote:
Its worth watching, I think Taylor is a star so does my mother.Pity she didn't stay with Burton, also anyone with young children, they would love this film.

At 23:06:48 on 25.04.09, picsnicky wrote:
My mum thought Elizabeth Taylor was really glamorous... I watched the film when I was young and loved it. In fact having seen the trailer again I'd love to curl up on the sofa on a Sunday and watch it again!!!