Jump to content

Ride a Wild Pony: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Line 70: Line 70:


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Robert Bettles]] as Scott Pirie
*Robert Bettles as Scott Pirie
*[[Eva Griffith]] as Josie Ellison
*Eva Griffith as Josie Ellison
*[[Michael Craig (actor)|Michael Craig]] as James Ellison
*[[Michael Craig (actor)|Michael Craig]] as James Ellison
*[[John Meillon]] as Charles Quayle
*[[John Meillon]] as Charles Quayle

Revision as of 22:53, 24 November 2011

Ride a Wild Pony
File:Rideawildpony.jpg
Directed byDon Chaffey
StarringMichael Craig
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution Co. Inc.
Release date
December 25, 1975
Running time
91 minutes
CountryTemplate:Film US
LanguageEnglish

Ride a Wild Pony, also known as Born to Run, is a 1975 Walt Disney Productions film directed by Don Chaffey adapted from the James Aldridge novel A Sporting Proposition.[1]

Plot

Set in a small Australian town between world wars, the film follows the battle between two children, Scott, a poor farm boy, and Josie, the handicapped daughter of a wealthy ranch owner, for ownership of a horse that both children love.[2] Scott requires a horse to ride seven miles to school today and his father buys an unbroken pony, which Scott names Taff. Josie yearns to ride again but, being crippled, must settle on the use of a cart and pony. Scott's pony disappears, while a pony is eventually selected for Josie from her father's herd. When Scott sees the horse, which Josie named Bo, performing in the pony and cart competition at the township fair, he recognizes it as his horse and attempts to take it away.[3] The ensuing quarrel affects both the children as well as dividing the town.[4] The children eventually become friends and, while the ownership issue is legally resolved, they agree on a way of sharing the pony between them.[2]

Cast

Production

Although based on an Australian story, the film was originally intended to be rewritten to fit an American setting. However, the producer, Jerome Courtland, determined that an Australian background would not detract from the film's potential for success in the US. As a result, the film was not only set in Australia, but employed a largely Australian-based cast.[5] Ride a Wild Pony was filmed in the historic town of Chiltern, Victoria.[6] Several different Welsh mountain ponies were used in the film's production.[7]

Reception

In 1976, The New York Times criticized the film as a "fundamentally uneventful and somewhat padded story",[4] while in 1987 in a review for the film's video release it wrote that the film "was well acted, by adults, youngsters and pony...a film that children - and their parents - should certainly enjoy."[8] Also in 1976, The Blade wrote that the film "combines an intelligent script, a generally excellent cast, and good production values in a film with broad appeal."[2] The Daily Collegian also praised the film, saying that it contained "a refreshing amount of realism, and an emotional subtelty that is unusual for a Disney film."[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ride a Wild Pony (1976)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  2. ^ a b c Dresser, Norman (16 April 1976). "'Ride a Wild Pony' Is Appealing to All". Toldedo Blade. p. 16. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Waxse, Bennett F. (April 21, 1976). "Justice Triumphs in 'Wild Pony'". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 72. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b "Screen: Newest Disney:'Ride a Wild Pony' at the Neighborhoods". The New York Times. July 17, 1976. Retrieved 2010-02-05. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Insight with a boy and his pony". The Sydney Morning Herald. December 22, 1976. p. 16. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Bone, Pamela (May 15, 1986). "Chiltern lives again - just for television". The Age. p. 37. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Bennett, Colin (January 5, 1976). "No prizes if you can guess whodunnit". The Age. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Rothstein, Mervyn (April 12, 1987). "Home Video: Children - Ride a Wild Pony". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ Charles, Larry (April 30, 1976). "Kids' film won't bore older folks". The Daily Collegian. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-04-25. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)