Themes: Horses, Down on Their Luck, Generation Gap
Main Cast: Richard Farnsworth, Melissa Gilbert, Yankton Hatten, Michael Schoeffling, Constance Towers, Pete Kowanko, Chris Pederson
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Melissa Gilbert acquits herself well in this old-fashioned family drama about a gritty Texas orphan named Charlie (Gilbert), a substitute parent for her brothers, determined to succeed in life by converting an unmanageable rodeo horse into an equestrian champion. The transformation from equine dross to championship dressage is not an easy road, and helping Charlie is the often tipsy but tough Foster (Richard Farnsworth), as well as Matt, the man who captures her heart (Michael Schoeffling). After they succeed in training the actually talented horse, they head for the blue grass and bluer blood of Kentucky, where the equestrian and racing elite hold court over all, including newcomers from Texas. Now they have to coax the horse to make it through the formal dressage, cross-country, and jumping competitions -- and to do that in top form. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Shane Serwin - Seth; Norman Bennett - Lenny; James Gammon - Steve; Shizuko Hoshi - Mrs. Daniels; Arliss Howard - Peter; Richard Jamison - Capt. Marsh; Sam Laws - Sammy; Brian O'Connor - Broadcaster; Maggie Wise Riley - Steward; Angel Salazar - Tommy John; Barbara Brumley - Secretary; Nigel Caserley - Announcer; Victoria Gallegos - Sandy; Helmut Graetz - Dressage Official; Dan Lufkin - Starter; Earl John McElroy - Auctioneer; Dabney Garrett Munson - Judge; Michael Osborne - Irish trainer; J.P. Robertson - trucker; Stuart Silbar - Broadcaster; Linda Snead - Steward; Ariane de Vogue - Ariane
Credit
Sharon Day - Costume Designer, George Little - Costume Designer, Tim Hunter - Director, David Garfield - Editor, Suzanne Pettit - Editor, Howard E. Smith - Editor, Lee Holdridge - Composer (Music Score), Jim Scribner - Makeup, James Newport - Production Designer, Hiro Narita - Cinematographer, Martin Jurow - Producer, Raymond Stark - Producer, Thomas A. Duffield - Set Designer, Robert Zilliox - Set Designer, Jerry Gatlin - Stunts, Carol Sobieski - Screenwriter
