This story has been with me in one form or another since I was a toddler. I grew up reading Walter Farley's books. I began as a toddler with the Little Black Pony stories and The Big Black Horse, which is a scaled down version of The Black Stallion. The Big Black Horse deals with the portion of the story that takes place on the boat and then moves to the island that Alec and the Black were stranded on. It ends with their rescue. As a pre-teen and young teenager I read almost all the Black Stallion books that had been written up to that point at time, the late 70's and early 80's. When I heard that a film was being written I was so very excited. However when I first saw the film I was disappointed. It was no fault of the film makers but rather a fault of my own imagination. After having read so many of the Black Stallion books I had created my own ideas of what everyone, everyplace, and everything should look like. This is one of the great things about reading, each reader creates their own unique images. The movie in many ways was at a disadvantage, in no way could it satisfy the thousand of fans who had been reading the books for nearly four decades. Anyway, I thought the film moved a little slow and while sticking fairly close to the book failed to capture my interest like the books did.
Jump ahead 25 years and I have a new take. I recently purchased the DVD. I figured what the heck, it's reasonably priced and I did like the story. As I watched the film as an adult I found that I really enjoyed it in a way I hadn't as a child. The movie lets the images tell the story, no need for narration or long drawn out dialogue . The sets are really well done and I never sensed that any portion of the film was made on a studio back lot. The story moves at a good pace and is not drawn out too long. The casting was very well done. Micky Rooney was great as the old jockey turned trainer, Henry Dailey. African American screen legend Clarence Muse did well in the role of Snoe. Muse was 90 years old when the film was made and died just before the film was released. This was really a well put together movie. I would suggest that you watch it when you're not busy doing something else at the same time. If you are able to sit down and allow yourself to focus your attention on the film you'll find yourself really drawn into the story.
Lastly, as for the DVD, I don't know who the DVD manufacturers thought they were fooling when they called this a "widescreen release"? Instead of releasing the true widescreen version they simply stretched the pan & scan version and added black bars to the bottom and top of the picture. I would suggest you, for those who are able, that you shrink the film and watch it in normal pan & scan mode. It is better viewed in this aspect ratio than the stretched version the DVD manufacturers try to have you watch it in.
Jump ahead 25 years and I have a new take. I recently purchased the DVD. I figured what the heck, it's reasonably priced and I did like the story. As I watched the film as an adult I found that I really enjoyed it in a way I hadn't as a child. The movie lets the images tell the story, no need for narration or long drawn out dialogue . The sets are really well done and I never sensed that any portion of the film was made on a studio back lot. The story moves at a good pace and is not drawn out too long. The casting was very well done. Micky Rooney was great as the old jockey turned trainer, Henry Dailey. African American screen legend Clarence Muse did well in the role of Snoe. Muse was 90 years old when the film was made and died just before the film was released. This was really a well put together movie. I would suggest that you watch it when you're not busy doing something else at the same time. If you are able to sit down and allow yourself to focus your attention on the film you'll find yourself really drawn into the story.
Lastly, as for the DVD, I don't know who the DVD manufacturers thought they were fooling when they called this a "widescreen release"? Instead of releasing the true widescreen version they simply stretched the pan & scan version and added black bars to the bottom and top of the picture. I would suggest you, for those who are able, that you shrink the film and watch it in normal pan & scan mode. It is better viewed in this aspect ratio than the stretched version the DVD manufacturers try to have you watch it in.