Monthly Classic Movie Review

I didn't do a review for January(oops!) so I'll do two this time. February's review will be the next post.

A member of the Francis Ford Coppola family is a musician, and has composed many a film soundtrack. His name is Carmine Coppola. The work he did on The Black Stallion, 1979, is absolutely compelling and as beautiful as the movie itself. The music accompanying the final credits of the film might well be the most beautiful film music ever created. Stunning in its warmth and beauty. Everything about this film screams beauty, from its exotic locations in the Mediterannean, to its characters, to the heart-pumping horse race that brings the film to a climax. It is the inspiring story of a small boy and a wild Arabian stallion that form a lasting friendship. A tragic cruise ship accident kills the boy's father and leaves him floating in the sea, yet the Arabian stallion escapes the wreck, swims by and Alec clutches on, eventually finding the shore. Alec soon realizes that he is alone. The island is deserted, and rescue seems impossible. He finds the black stallion or "the Black" trotting around, and lures him in with some seaweed. The scene is amazing to watch, as the stallion is wary of this human, yet is very hungry, so the food he offers is very tempting. The director of photography is Caleb Deschanel, who is well known for his work on The Right Stuff, The Natural, and The Passion of the Christ. The look of this film is gorgeous.

There's a scene where Alec wakes up on the beach to find a Cobra staring him in the eyes, poised to strike. The Black comes to the rescue and stomps the cobra, making it one flat pancake. There were REAL snakes in those scenes! According to a website detailing the production, a few cobras were flown in from Milan. The fact that cobras could move twice as fast as any human in the sands of the beach ought to up your fear of snakes a little more. Yikes! There are other exciting scenes throughout to keep the tension going. There is a good balance between tense and relaxed. The overall tempo of the film is on the slow side. One of the best qualities of the film is how it allows you to just sit back and enjoy the scenery.
The film however ends on a high note, and the final horse race gets your blood pumping and will make you jump up and cheer!

Another highlight is that during the race, the camera is so close to Alec and the other jockeys, you'll feel you are riding along with them! You feel the power and speed of these horses, and you'll want to climb up on the horse and shoot away! Thrilling stuff.