The Sad Horse

1959 film by James B. Clark
  • March 1959 (1959-03)
Running time
77 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$250,000[1]

The Sad Horse is a 1959 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, written by Charles Hoffman and starring David Ladd, Chill Wills, Rex Reason, Patrice Wymore, Gregg Palmer and Eve Brent.[2][3] One of API's first films, it was released in March 1959 by 20th Century Fox.[4][5][6][7]

Plot

Polio-stricken 10-year-old boy Jackie Connors stays at his grandfather Captain Connors' horse farm while his father Bart goes away on a honeymoon with Sheila, his new wife. Jackie and his dog Hansel become acquainted with a woman named Leslie MacDonald and her thoroughbred North Wind, who hasn't seemed the same since the death of a dog that had been the horse's steady companion.

The unhappy Leslie is seeking a divorce from husband Bill and sees the child's Hansel as a replacement for the horse's dog. Jackie resists and she bribes Captain Connors with a $5,000 trust fund for the boy. Jackie and the dog head off to the hills, looking for a rumored buried treasure that could keep his grandfather from needing the woman's money. A mountain lion menaces the boy, who is saved in the nick of time.

Leslie and Bill reconcile. Bart returns and persuades Jackie that giving up the dog would be a grand gesture, and he agrees.

Cast

  • David Ladd as Jackie Connors
  • Chill Wills as Capt Connors
  • Rex Reason as Bill MacDonald
  • Patrice Wymore as Leslie MacDonald
  • Gregg Palmer as Bart Connors
  • Eve Brent as Sheila
  • Leslie Bradley as Jonas
  • William Yip as Ben
  • Dave DePaul as Sam

Reception

The film was made by Robert L. Lippert, whose Regal outfits produced films for Fox for an average of $100,000. However, with competition from television, Lippert persuaded Fox to start financing as much as $300,000 per film, starting with The Sad Horse. He later claimed that the return on the film "was comparable to a $1 million picture."[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Scheuer, P. K. (Oct 26, 1959). "Lippert hails era of $300,000 hits". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167507684.
  2. ^ Hopper, H. (Dec 1, 1958). "Henry levin back from european trip". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167400155.
  3. ^ "SAD HORSE, the". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 26. 1959. p. 125. ProQuest 1305822709.
  4. ^ "The Sad Horse (1959) – Overview". TCM.com. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  5. ^ Sandra Brennan (2016). "The-Sad-Horse – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  6. ^ "The Sad Horse". Afi.com. Retrieved 2015-09-22.
  7. ^ "FILMLAND EVENTS". Los Angeles Times. Dec 31, 1958. ProQuest 167377258.

External links

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Films directed by James B. Clark
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