The Black Stallion

Synopsis: While traveling with his father, young Alec becomes fascinated by a mysterious Arabian stallion who is brought on board and stabled in the ship he is sailing on. When it tragically sinks both he and the horse survive only to be stranded on a desert island. He befriends it, so when finally rescued, both return to his home where they soon meet Henry Dailey, a once-successful trainer. Together they begin training the stallion to race against the fastest horses in the world.
Director(s): Carroll Ballard
Production: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
  Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 4 nominations.
 
IMDB:
7.4
Metacritic:
84
Rotten Tomatoes:
89%
G
Year:
1979
118 min
1,323 Views


Daddy, do you know what l saw?

lt was the most fantastic thing.

Come look.

My son.

Look, son,

l'm really busy...

but l'll tell you

what l do need.

l need some good luck.

Okay, Mr. Lucky,

it's time we divvy up the loot.

Look at all of these things.

What a night.

What do you think of this?

This is pretty. l'll take those.

Try that.

lsn't that pretty?

l better keep that.

That's pretty nice.

l think l better take that.

You shouldn't have that.

l better take that.

You're too young for that.

Look at that watch.

l'll take that.

That's a pretty watch.

lt's time l got myself another knife.

So l oughta give you this.

You never know when a knife

might come in handy.

You want some gold?

There's lots of gold.

You know, l'll bet this is

the most valuable piece here.

lt's Bucephalus, the magic horse

of Alexander the Great.

A long time ago, this king

was gonna kill Bucephalus...

because he was so wild

the king couldn't ride him.

He had Bucephalus brought

into a big arena.

People came from all around.

They wanted to see this horse

that was the biggest...

and the blackest and the strongest,

most beautiful horse that ever was.

King Philip walked out there

and looked at some of his men.

He said, 'Kill that horse.'

Just then a voice called out

from the edge of the crowd.

lt said, 'l can ride that horse.'

Everybody said, 'Who said that?'

lt was a little kid, just about

your size, just about your age.

King Philip said...

'Son, if you can ride that horse,

you can have that horse.'

So Alexander walked out

into the big arena.

Standing in the middle of the arena

was Bucephalus.

He was big, and he was strong.

He was pawing the ground...

and there was fire in his eyes...

and there was smoke

coming out of his nose.

He went--

Alexander walked up...

then quick as a cat,

he jumped up on his back.

He grabbed hold

of that long, black mane...

and away they went,

like lightning.

He jumped right over the crowd,

over the stand...

and went ridin' out

over the hill.

Everybody said, 'Whew!'

Smoke comin' out of his nose!

Fire in his eyes.

Fire in his eyes!

That's the way l heard the story.

Here. l want you

to have this.

Bucephalus.

Dad, what's going on?

- Ow!

- Alec!

- Alec, come here!

Just take it easy.

We'll be okay.

- What's happening?

- l don't know. Put this on.

Help me with this. Here.

Come here, son.

Put this life vest on.

lt's okay.

Tie the bottom.

Let's get outta here!

Hang onto that rail!

Stay right there!

l'll be back!

Stay there! l'm gonna help these guys!

Don't move! Hang on!

- Help!

- Hey, Alec!

Dad!

Help!

Dad!

Help!

Help!

Help!

He saved my life.

l can't leave the island

without him.

- He'll die without me.

Stop!

Let me go!

Black!

Black, come on!

Black!

'Ode to Alec Ramsey.'

'l think that l shall never see...

a boy as brave as Alec Ramsey.

Hunger and thirst,

in fear and pain.

He lived because

his heart had aim.

A horse

as black as night to day...

a beast, a god...

with whom he did stay.

They slept on the sand

and played in the ocean.

And rode over the island

in a singular motion.

Now, here he sits,

a hero among boys...

with the love of a horse,

much more than mere toys.'

l'm very happy

to have my son back.

Thank you. l wish you could have

saved his father too.

You're kind of a pretty horse.

- What--

Black, no!

No!

Black, come back!

Alec!

Wow!

Yes, l saw a black horse!

lt ran thataway!

Whoa.

What happened to you?

- Everything.

- Everything?

That's a whole lot.

Can't be everything.

You lost a black horse.

Yeah. Have you seen him?

Do you know where he is?

- Napoleon...

did you tell me

you saw a black stallion?

Well, what did he say?

He says,

'Well, not very far from here.'

Just past the dairy...

there's a big black barn.

Then you see a long bunch

of skinny trees...

that you walk around.

Then you go right by a morning star.

You keep following that star...

and see a large patch

of green grass.

Then you stop.

Then you listen.

Pretty soon you'll see

just what you've been looking for.

Hey, Black!

Black?

Black!

Black, it's you!

You okay?

l knew it was you.

What do you think

you're doin' over there, sonny?

l'm gettin' my horse!

You're a big, fat thief!

- Nobody's a thief.

- You are!

l said, 'Nobody's a thief.'

Who do you think you're callin' a thief?

This is my place.

l'm thinkin' that's my horse.

No, he's mine!

Hold on, son.

Wait a minute.

- What are you gonna do here, buddy?

What are you gonna do?

Easy.

Maybe he is yours...

but l spent all last night tryin'

to catch this wild horse.

All night l spent.

You're just lucky l got him

instead of the police.

Hear me?

He kicked a garbageman?

He's somethin', all right.

Did you have any breakfast?

Henry, l think

he likes it out here.

Tried cows. lt didn't work.

Chickens--

They just about drove me nuts.

Chickens.

Look, if you clean this stall up

in here real good...

and you get it fit for him,

l could let you have it.

There are too many red cards.

ls The Black fast?

He's fast.

Fast enough

to be a racehorse?

That Black is a desert horse.

He's fast, all right.

Sure, he's fast.

But he hasn't got any papers.

Fast or not, l don't think

they'd ever let him run.

Can l ask you a question?

Sure.

Why did you stop training?

l got tired.

Do you think you'll ever

try it again?

Sure, l do.

Sure.

lt's work.

Worth it, though.

Hold onto him good, son.

Stay in the center of him.

Turn him around the other way.

The other way, son.

Bring him in and turn him around.

Now send him down around here.

lt comes as no surprise

that again this week...

both Sunraider,

the fiery red stallion from the West...

and Cyclone,

the sleek gray from the East...

have won their races with ease.

They have won

with monotonous regularity.

But, hey-hey,

let's see these two champions...

run head-to-head.

Perhaps horse fans will be treated

to the match race of the century.

This is 'Hey-Hey' Jim Neville,

from Belmont.

Lookin' this way.

Not lookin' down on the ground.

Lookin' straight ahead.

That's right.

You want to see what's comin',

you look underneath your arm.

Not over your shoulder.

Down under here.

ln here. See what's going on

down there, all around you.

You can scoot and boot,

understand?

Then you've got your balance.

Keep your knees in close

when you're puttin' your stirrups on.

Check down underneath here too.

Get that leather outta your way.

Pull it back in there underneath

so that your knees--

Nothin' in the way in here.

All right.

Now you're up. Feel that?

Feel that in your legs?

Hmm? Feel it pullin'

on your legs back here?

- Mm-hmm.

- All right.

Look ahead down the lane.

No, you don't jump

straight up and down.

Just try and keep your body

as still as possible.

He'll be movin'.

He'll be makin' that rhythm.

You just go on with him.

You don't have to pump him.

Just kind of go

straight ahead with him.

Just like you're throwing it away,

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Melissa Mathison

Melissa Marie Mathison was an American film and television screenwriter and an activist for Tibetan freedom. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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