Main Cast: Robert Taylor, Lilli Palmer, Curd Jürgens, Eddie Albert, James Franciscus
Release Year: 1962
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
In a rather confusing and slow-paced manner, this wartime drama about a real-life dilemma is meant to highlight the dedication of Colonel Alois Podhajsky (Robert Taylor), the instructor at a prestigious Vienna equestrian school. The colonel is in charge of the safety and health of the royal Lipizzaner horses and he has a serious problem. He has not been able to secure German permission to leave for a safe haven with the horses and, at the same time, he has to get them together with the Lipizzaner mares in order to continue the species. The trouble is that the mares are in the hands of the enemy. And so the colonel sets out to get the horses through a German checkpoint, and convince General Patton (John Larch) to help him with his mission. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Review
A Disney film that doesn't quite know whether it is meant for adults or for children, The Miracle of the White Stallions is a fact-based adventure story that is never as exciting or impressive as the true events upon which it is based. A.J. Carothers's screenplay is the main source of the problem, warring with itself by treating the material with too much simplicity for adults but not providing the kids with enough "oomph" to make it worth their while. Director Arthur Hiller does not help matters, starting the film at a sluggish pace and keeping most of it languid, even when the story itself seems to be begging for more energy and verve. Robert Taylor's wooden performance also adds to the film's problems, although Eddie Albert helps to take up the slack whenever he is onscreen, and Curd Jurgens gives a nicely turned performance. Still, Stallions would be all too easy to dismiss were it not for the horses themselves, beautiful beasts whose grace and agility light up the screen. When they're given a chance to strut their stuff, the film breaks free from its usual plodding and manages to soar. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
John Larch - Gen. Patton; Brigitte Horney - Countess Arco-Valley; Philip Abbott - Col. Reed; Douglas Fowley - U.S. General; Charles Regnier - Gen. Stryker; Fritz Wepper - Rider Hans; Guenther Haenel - Groom Sascha; Hans Habietinek - Innkeeper Hager; Philo Hauser - Dispatcher; Michael Janisch - Refugee Leader; Max Haufler - Engineer; Robert Dietl - German MP Captain; Erik Schumann - German Capt. Danhoff; Helmuth Janatsch - Intruder; Michael Tellering - Stryker's Adjutant; Fritz Eckhardt; Hal Galili - Brooklyn GI; Larry Billman; Hugo Lindinger
Credit
Peter V. Herald - Associate Producer, Leo Bei - Costume Designer, Arthur Hiller - Director, Fred Srp - Editor, Cotton Warburton - Editor, Richard M. Sherman - Composer (Music Score), Robert B. Sherman - Composer (Music Score), Paul J. Smith - Composer (Music Score), Isabella Schlichting - Production Designer, Werner Schlichting - Production Designer, Gunther Anders - Cinematographer, Robert Russ - Production Manager, Walt Disney - Producer, Robert O. Cook - Sound/Sound Designer, A.J. Carothers - Screenwriter, Col. Alois Podhajsky - Book Author
In WWII Austria, Col. Alois Podhajsky sets out to protect his beloved Lipizzaner stallions and make sure that they are surrendered into the right hands. It is known that Patton is something of a horse fancier and might help, if he sees the stallions perform.[1]
