BLACK STALLION: Innocence, Simplicity And Beauty

Black Stallion was a great movie when I came out 30 years ago.  It’s still an enjoyable movie experience, and my guess is that 30 years from now, it will STILL be a must-watch film. 
The plot is a relatively simple one, focusing on a carefully developed relationship between a young boy and a horse.  The two are forced on each other after they were the only survivors of a shipwreck.  The friendship continues after they’re rescued, but without question the money scenes of this film are those shot on the island. 
While movies like “Old Yeller” and “Where the Red Fern Grows” are immensely popular children’s movies, the truth is they are difficult to watch because the animals are injured, then ultimately die.  Thankfully the horse doesn’t come close to dying here, but it’s still very much a movie with just as much strength in the relationship between animal and boy.  The scenes shot on the island are incredibly powerful.  What I found amazing about this is that  Alec was faced with a tragedy beyond all comprehension:  he lost his father in the shipwreck and was faced with the prospect of living his whole life on the island.  He learns how to survive.  Yet overshadowing this not-insignificant feat, is how the relationship between him and horse is developed.  The scene where they come together is one not to be missed.  Seeing Alec back off and move forward, then that motion repeated by the horse, is a classic.  And of course, the scenes with the horse running free and wild are stunning.  We don’t really appreciate the beauty of a horse until we see one running without saddles, without blinkers or without jockeys.  They are powerful, stunning animals with an affinity and loyalty to humans the equal match of dogs. 
Dialogue isn’t overly important to this film.  There is a long, long stretch of time with no words spoken.  Hard to carry on a conversation with only one person in the scene.  But when the movie comes back to civilization, there is no better person than Mickey Rooney to deliver the words.  His performance as the mentor trainer Henry Dailey won him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. 
The movie is timeless and a must-see for any kids. 

9 out of 10.