Review of National Velvet (1945) by Nate W — 22 Jun 2011
"National Velvet" is the sugary tale of a little Velvet Brown (played by a young, doe-eyed Elizabeth Taylor) and her dream of winning the Grand National atop her beloved horse. The story is as saccharine as it gets, but it's told with such alacrity and purpose that it makes for fairly easy viewing.
Even in spite of the dated melodramatic performances (save for Anne Revere's dryly comic turn as the quietly encouraging Mrs. Brown) one can't help but get caught up in this old-fashioned underdog story.
Credit Clarence Brown's firm direction but especially Robert Kern's excellent editing, which gives the film a real spring in its step. The quaint seaside toen of Sewels, England and the whirling dervish of the Grand National race are expressively captured by Leonard Smith's wonderful technicolour cinematography.
This review of National Velvet (1945) was written by Nate W on 22 Jun 2011.
National Velvet has generally received very positive reviews.
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