National Velvet

Elizabeth Taylor Director: Clarence Brown Clarence Brown

Overview

The lovely, timeless family film National Velvet gets a good, no-frills DVD release from Warner Home Video. Practically identical to the MGM DVD edition, National Velvet's print has been remastered and the 1940s color cinematography looks great. The print comes in the standard screen format that echoes the original theatrical aspect ratio perfectly. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Monophonic soundtrack is well balanced and clean. It would've been nice for Warner's to add a DVD extra or two, but there is no faulting this budget-priced release on technical merits.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/11/2000
UPC:	0012569506329
Original Release:	1944
Rating:	G
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital, monaural]
Time:	2:04:00
Sales rank:	2,721

Special Features

Interactive menus; Theatrical trailer; Scene access; Languages: English & Français; Subtitles: English, Français & Español

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Elizabeth Taylor	Velvet Brown
Mickey Rooney	Mike Taylor
Donald Crisp	Mr. Brown
Anne Revere	Mrs. Brown
Angela Lansbury	Edwina Brown
Juanita Brown	Actor
Butch Jenkins	Donald Brown
Reginald Owen	Farmer Ede
Arthur Treacher	Man with Umbrella
Juanita Quigley	Malvolia Brown
Norma Varden	Miss Sims
Terry Kilburn	Ted
William Austin	Reporter
William Norton Bailey	Bookie
Frank Benson	Englishman
Billy Bevan	Constable
Matthew Boulton	Entry Clerk
Colin Campbell	Cockney
Leonard Carey	Pressman
Wally Cassell	Jockey
Donald Curtis	American
Alec Harford	Valet
Leyland Hodgson	Actor
Olaf Hytten	Actor
George Kirby	Villager
Rose Langdon	Actor
Eugene Loring	Mr. Taski
Moyna MacGill	Woman
Barry Macollum	Townsman
Aubrey Mather	Entry Official
Virginia McDowall	Actor
Gordon Richards	Doctor
Gerald Oliver Smith	Cameraman
Howard Taylor	Actor
Rhoda Williams	Actor
Eric Wilton	English Bookie
Frederic Worlock	Stewart
Jane Isbell	Actor
Harry Allen	Van Driver
Alec Craig	Tim
Dennis Hoey	Mr. Greenford the Farmer
Arthur Shields	Mr. Hallam

Technical Credits

Helen Deutsch

Theodore Reeves

Clarence Brown	Director
Pandro S. Berman	Producer
Helen Deutsch	Screenwriter
Cedric Gibbons	Art Director
Mildred Griffiths	Production Designer,Set Decoration/Design
Irene	Costumes/Costume Designer
Robert J. Kern	Editor
Urie McCleary	Art Director
Warren Newcombe	Special Effects
Theodore Reeves	Screenwriter
Leonard Smith	Cinematographer
Herbert Stothart	Score Composer
Edwin B. Willis	Production Designer,Set Decoration/Design

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Scene Selection
1. Main Title [1:35]
2. England, late '20s [:31]
3. Summertime [3:52]
4. Mi Taylor [1:04]
5. Meeting Pie [2:19]
6. At the dinner table [5:39]
7. "Goodnight, Edwina" [4:41]
8. About Dan Taylor [1:41]
9. Mi reconsiders [4:22]
10. At the shop [1:33]
11. A leap beyond faith [2:55]
12. "They're raffling him" [3:51]
13. The drawing [3:22]
14. "Is it true?" [1:29]
15. A fairy horse...and cart [5:56]
16. Large dream little girl [5:06]
17. In the attic [3:18]
18. To London; the pub [6:34]
19. Mi's change a deal [4:37]
20. Training Pie Falls ill [6:12]
21. Pie's rise; Donald's fit [6:03]
22. The trip [3:36]
23. Ivan taski; Mi's Past [4:08]
24. Back on the horse [2:49]
25. The Velveteen jockey [3:48]
26. Morning of the race [7:37]
27. Startoff [5:57]
28. Coming up fast [4:16]
29. National Velvet [3:56]
30. Hollywood bekons [3:21]
31. Man to Mi [3:12]
32. Velvet's parting gift [3:55]

Menu

Side #1 --
   Language Selection
      Spoken Language
      Captions & Subtitles
   Play

Editorial Reviews

One of the most beloved children's classics ever filmed, National Velvet holds up almost as well today as it did in 1944. True, modern audiences are much more familiar with elements of the story now, and they may find a bit of the plotting somewhat farfetched; but most audiences will be caught up in the sheer excitement and good will of Velvet that they will gladly overlook any shortcomings. There's so much to praise in Velvet that it's hard to know where to begin -- or would be, if it weren't for the fact that the climactic event remains the best horse racing sequence ever put on film. It's gripping, spine tingling and just plain fun, a sequence that will have viewers on the edge of their seats and ready to stand and cheer. Credit for this spectacular segment is due equally to director Clarence Brown, cinematographer Leonard Smith, editor Robert J. Kern and composer Herbert Stothart, all of whom work together seamlessly. Brown's work throughout is nearly flawless, drawing forth sterling performances from his cast, capturing every highlight of the screenplay and telling the story with keen attention to pacing and cinematic detail. Elizabeth Taylor is sheer magic as Velvet, Mickey Rooney gives a wonderful, understated performance, Angela Lansbury is lovely and Anne Revere makes the absolute most of every moment. Then there's Pi, one of the most beautiful creatures ever put on the screen, a force of nature that is irresistible. Velvet is a dream of a movie -- one from which you won't want to awaken.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler