National Velvet (2000)
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100% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
71% of users liked it
(9,666 ratings)
Although National Velvet was the first starring role for 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, the early part of the film belongs to Mickey Rooney in the showier role of Mike Taylor, a headstrong English ex-jockey. Soured on life by a serious accident, Mike plans to steal from the country family that has… More Although National Velvet was the first starring role for 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, the early part of the film belongs to Mickey Rooney in the showier role of Mike Taylor, a headstrong English ex-jockey. Soured on life by a serious accident, Mike plans to steal from the country family that has taken him in, but his resolve is weakened by the kindness of young Velvet (Taylor). The two find a common bond in their love of horses. Velvet wins an "unbreakable" horse in a raffle, and enters the animal in the Grand National Sweepstakes. Though Mike is unable to ride the horse, he aids Velvet in her plan to disguise herself as a jockey; she wins the race...but the story isn't over quite yet. Co-starring as Velvet's mother is Anne Revere, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance. National Velvet is based on the novel by Enid Bagnold. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Clarence Brown
- Written By
- Enid Bagnold, Theodore Reeves, Helen Deutsch
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Classics
- In Theaters
- Dec 14, 1944 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 11, 2000
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Manny Farber, The New Republic
Pandro Berman, the producer, and Clarence Brown, the director, have made it into a conservatively exciting and engaging film whose chief virtue is its acting, especially a letter-perfect, beautifully felt performance by Mickey Rooney as the jockey.
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, TIME Magazine
National Velvet is not merely sure to delight children and the child in most adults; it is also an interesting psychological study of hysterical obsession, conversion mania, preadolescent sexuality.
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Don Druker, Chicago Reader
A good movie for kids and armchair Freudians.
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Variety Staff, Variety
National Velvet is a horse picture with wide general appeal. The production also focuses attention on a new dramatic find -- moppet Elizabeth Taylor.
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, Time Out
This is a charmer for boys and girls of all ages, with a captivating performance from the young Liz Taylor as Velvet.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Mickey Rooney
as Mike Taylor
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Donald Crisp
as Mr. Brown
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Elizabeth Taylor
as Velvet Brown
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Anne Revere
as Mrs. Brown
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Angela Lansbury
as Edwina Brown
- Juanita Brown
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Butch Jenkins
as Donald Brown
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Reginald Owen
as Farmer Ede
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Arthur Treacher
as Man with Umbrella
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Juanita Quigley
as Malvolia Brown
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Norma Varden
as Miss Sims
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Terry Kilburn
as Ted
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Harry Allen
as Van Driver
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William Norton Bailey
as Bookie
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Billy Bevan
as Constable
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Matthew Boulton
as Entry Clerk
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Leonard Carey
as Pressman
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Wally Cassell
as Jockey
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Alec Craig
as Tim
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Donald Curtis
as American
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Alec Harford
as Valet
- Leyland Hodgson
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Dennis Hoey
as Mr. Greenford the Farmer
- Olaf Hytten
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George Kirby
as Villager
- Rose Langdon
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Eugene Loring
as Mr. Taski
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Moyna MacGill
as Woman
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Barry Macollum
as Townsman
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Aubrey Mather
as Entry Official
- Virginia McDowall
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Gordon Richards
as Doctor
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Arthur Shields
as Mr. Hallam
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Gerald Oliver Smith
as Cameraman
- Howard Taylor
- Rhoda Williams
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Eric Wilton
as English Bookie
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Frederic Worlock
as Stewart
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William Austin
as Reporter
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Colin Campbell
as Cockney
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Frank Benson
as Englishman
- Jane Isbell

