Black Beauty *** (1971, Mark Lester, Walter Slezak, Ursula Glas, Patrick Mower, John Nettleton) – Classic Movie Review 11,816

The 1971 film version of the beloved Anna Sewell children’s classic Black Beauty stars Mark Lester, Walter Slezak, Ursula Glas, Patrick Mower, and John Nettleton.

Wolf Mankowitz comes up with an appealing, faithful script for this fourth feature film version of the Anna Sewell children’s classic Black Beauty.

Mark Lester (Oliver) stars as Joe Evans, the young owner of the horse, which has lots of adventures with other owners – British evil squire Sam Greene (Patrick Mower), arrogant British military man Sir William (John Nettleton), and German circus owner Hackenschmidt (Walter Slezak) – before being eventually reunited with young Joe Evans.

Director James Hill’s 1971 Black Beauty is a beauty for children and horse lovers, with gorgeous images on lovely international European locations courtesy top British cinematographer Chris Menges and Spain’s Fernando Arribas. Lionel Bart provides the rousing score, with additional music by the musical director John Cameron.

It is shot on location in Ireland and Spain, and at Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.

Director Phil Rosen’s 1933 Black Beauty is the first sound film of the beloved Anna Sewell children’s classic, followed by Max Nosseck’s 1946 black and white children’s film Black Beauty. It is followed by Caroline Thompson’s 1994 film Black Beauty.

In 1933 the 1877 book had sold three million copies, but by 1971 it has achieved more than six million sales.

The cast are Mark Lester as Joe Evans, Walter Slezak as Hackenschmidt, Ursula Glas as Marie Hackenschmidt, Peter Lee Lawrence as Lt. Gervaise Caldicott, Patrick Mower as Sam Greene, John Nettleton as Sir William, Maria Rohm as Lady Anne Piggott, Eddie Golden as Joe’s father Evans, Clive Geraghty as Roger, John Hoey as Muldoon, Patrick Gardiner as Seamus O’Flaherty, Brian McGrath as Mark Beauchamp, Ronan Smith as Farmboy, John Franklyn as Coalman, and Margaret Lacey as Anna Sewell.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,816

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