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Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp, Anne Revere, Angela Lansbury ... see more see more... , Juanita Brown , Butch Jenkins , Reginald Owen , Arthur Treacher , Juanita Quigley , Norma Varden , Terry Kilburn , Harry Allen , William Norton Bailey , Billy Bevan , Matthew Boulton , Leonard Carey , Wally Cassell , Alec Craig , Donald Curtis , Alec Harford , Leyland Hodgson , Dennis Hoey , Olaf Hytten , George Kirby , Rose Langdon , Eugene Loring , Moyna MacGill , Barry Macollum , Aubrey Mather , Virginia McDowall , Gordon Richards , Arthur Shields , Gerald Oliver Smith , Howard Taylor , Rhoda Williams , Eric Wilton , Frederic Worlock , William Austin , Colin Campbell , Frank Benson , Jane Isbell

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-j... read more read more...ockey. 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

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71% liked it

9,437 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

20 critics

G, 2 hr. 3 min.

Directed by: Clarence Brown

Release Date: December 14, 1944

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DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000

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Stats: 425 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (425)

  • FrizzDrop
    November 13, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    A giant cup full of feel good. Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor, two of the greatest child actors to grace the silver screen, are put together to make one of the more beautiful of trainer-athlete pairings on screen. Anne Revere as the incomparable Mrs. Brown gained an Oscar for... read more her role, and rightly so. Watch with family, because that's what thje movie's about. That and the Pie.
  • webalina
    July 28, 2010
    webalina
    A warm and fuzzy family film about a young girl's love of her horse and her pursuit of a win at the Grand Nationals horse race. This stars an incredibly beautiful 12-year old Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, and Donald Crisp as the curmudgeonly but lovable father, Mr. Brown.

    T... read morehere are some scenes that are TOO coincidental, such as how Velvet (Taylor) acquires the horse to begin with, and how the results of the race are decided. Why take the long way around? We know she's going to win the horse or we'd have no movie. Why tiptoe around the obvious? The race itself, consisting of jumps over hedges and ditches, is breathtaking. A number of horses don't complete the jumps, jockeys are thrown or fall from their horses, and the recording of this event makes you feel you're actually there. Kind of a Ben-Hur feel to it in some ways.

    Mickey Rooney was a hugely talented actor as a child, and he doesn't disappoint here. He is by turns sweet or bossy or calculating or afraid. He has a wonderful series of scenes with character actor Arthur Treacher as they watch the race progress.

    I've always found Elizabeth Taylor's early performances a little too saccharine for my tastes, but she has a glow in her face and her voice that you can't help but be drawn to. Small children, especially horse-obsessed little girls, will like this, and it's good enough that adults won't be pulling their hair out while watching it.

    The main theme at the time was probably about going after your dreams, and it is that. But Velvet's talk with her mother (Anne Revere) about those dreams also holds a feminist message -- that women can do anything men can do. What better message could there be for little girls?
  • dreamfaeries
    October 17, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Beautiful.
  • constanzaboutter
    July 25, 2009
    constanzaboutter
    This was one of the first colour films. Liz Taylor as the girl in one of she?s first films. Good ethics of Velvet's parents, particularly her mother is something to take into account. Velvet loves the horses and racing them so Mi Taylor (Rooney) brought her to an international ho... read morerse racing competition in England, where at the end the young Velvet won, but was disqualified because of being female.
  • mingsysar
    October 30, 2008
    mingsysar
    This film can always give you a warm glow, but Taylor is way too earnest and the story way too inconceivable to be enjoyable.
  • placeinthesun455
    September 16, 2011
    placeinthesun455
    a typical warm, gooey 1940s movie with a bit of underdog sports movie thrown in. the story wasn't all that interesting, I didn't think, although the race itself is pretty exciting and there's some underrated character study going on as well. Rooney's character is right out of t... read morehe cookie cutter (an old pro who can't get back in the game because of what happened "back then"), but he plays it really well. young Liz Taylor shows incredible grace and maturity for a pre-teen actress, but she actually got on my nerves a bit. that's probably due more to the writing than her, but still. I loved Anne Revere--a caring, sharp-witted mother with an actual life story and a benefit of experience that can be totally believed. overall, I don't love this movie, but I liked it more than I was expecting.
  • ObsessiveOne
    December 24, 2008
    ObsessiveOne
    A classic story of a young girl and her passion for horses, which leads her to win the Grand National, one of the toughest horse races. One day, she notices a mischievious horse, called the Pie, and falls in love with him. Through circumstance, she becomes the owner of him throug... read moreh a raffle. Then, she finds out about the famous horse race, the Grand National. She determines to enter the Pie in it with the help of her friend Mi Taylor, who's a former jockey but has an aversion to horses because of an accident he had when racing. This movie is heartwarming and cheerworthy, with excellent performances by Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Tayler and of course, the Pie.
    I can watch this movie over and over again and not get tired of it; every time I cheer for Velvet and the Pie at the end when they cross the finish line. And of course, I love the colorful Brown family, with sensible Mrs. Brown, slightly ignorant Mr. Brown, boy-crazy Regina, and adorable Donald.

    "Violet...put that plate back in." "Oh, it aches me so."
  • terryc1000
    February 20, 2008
    terryc1000
    Liz Taylor hits the big time in this beautiful story of a young girl and her faith and love for a horse. Great supporting cast. Timeless classic. Great movie for kids...even today!
  • skittle07
    May 22, 2007
    skittle07
    "my heart just skips a beat! - Like Dwina's does for boys."
    Classic. Definitely a "horse movie," which isn't my favorite type of flick, but it's a great movie nonetheless. Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor are fabulous.
  • carolynmj19774
    May 8, 2007
    carolynmj19774
    This is one of my favorite movies! Elizabeth Taylor is so amazing in this. And I LOVE Mickey Rooney.

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Critic Reviews

March 23, 2011
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. Full Review

Don Druker
March 23, 2011
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

A good movie for kids and armchair Freudians. Full Review

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
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. Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

This fresh and delightful Metro picture, based on Enid Bagnold's novel of some years back, tells by far the most touching story of youngsters and of animals since Lassie was coming home. Full Review

Wesley Lovell
August 16, 2011
Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

Watching a young Elizabeth Taylor work is like watching a seed grow into a blossoming flower. Full Review

March 23, 2011
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Perhaps the only time Elizabeth Taylor's costar matched her visual scene stealing. He's a horse, albeit a gelding. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 26, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Great family movie; even better for horse lovers. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
June 20, 2009
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Winsome horse story family film. Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

This is a charmer for boys and girls of all ages, with a captivating performance from the young Liz Taylor as Velvet. Full Review

Steve Crum
October 19, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

One of the best horse movies; Rooney, Taylor are fine

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Facts

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    • Edwina Brown: We're alike. I, too, believe that everyone should have a chance at a breathtaking piece of folly once in his life. I was twenty when they said a woman couldn't swim the Channel. You're twelve; you think a horse of yours can win the Grand National. Your dream has come early; but remember, Velvet, it will have to last you all the rest of your life.
    • Edwina Brown: That'll be a dispute to the end of time, Mr. Brown, whether it's better to do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason.
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National Velvet : Watch Free on TV

National Velvet Trivia

  • She was Velvet's lovestruck older sister in "National Velvet", a diabolical political plotter in "The Manchurian Candidate", and finally a kindly private investigator on a TV show. Who is she?  Answer »
  • Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, a horse & Britain's Grand National Steeplechase race?  Answer »
  • National Velvet was originally bought by RKO as a starring vehicle for which actress?  Answer »
  • Elizabeth Taylor was originally considered wrong for her role in National Velvet by the director because:  Answer »
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