Search - The Red Pony on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Child Classic Movie Release: 1949 DVD Release: 07/22/2003 Format: DVD - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 31 mins Studio: Republic Pictures Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Children's/Family, Animal Picture, Coming-of-Age

One of themost acclaimed films to emerge from Republic studios, The Red Pony is an adaptation of the John Steinbeck story of the same name. Top billing goes to Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum, but the film's true star is young Peter Miles as Tom. A lonely farm boy, Tom seeks refuge from his troublesome home life and his eternally squabbling parents (Loy and Shepperd Strudwick) through his devotion to a newborn colt. The red pony is the issue of a prize mare owned by ranchhand Billy Buck (Mitchum), whom Tom idolizes. The film's coming-of-age theme cluminates in a poignant denouement. Louis Calhern plays Tom's lovably prevaricating grandfather, while 10-year-old Beau Bridges essays one of his first featured roles. Aaron Copland's score and the rich Technicolor photography of Tony Gaudio contribute to the film's overall mood. The Red Pony was remade for television in 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Myrna Loy - Alice Tiflin
Robert Mitchum - Billy Buck
Louis Calhern - Grandpa
Shepperd Strudwick - Fred Tiflin
Gerald Perreau-Saissine - Tom Tiflin

One of a tiny handful of Republic Pictures titles shot in Technicolor, The Red Pony was part of the studio's effort to upgrade its image and output in the postwar era. It comes to DVD in a fairly handsome edition, a little bit faded in some of the medium shots and outdoor sequences but generally satisfying. There is some instability -- at 14 minutes and 50 seconds into the movie, the full-frame (1.33:1) image turns slightly greenish and the exterior sequence involving Louis Calhern seems slightly soft, while other shots are ablaze in Technicolor red and still others are totally naturalistic. Detail tends to coalesce as the backgrounds shift within the same tracking shot; other, interior, shots vary from highly detailed to slightly dupey-looking, with some blemishes evident. The sound is more stable than the picture and is mastered at a consistent level, which gives good play to Aaron Copland's score. One of the most consistently satisfying film soundtracks of its period, it remains a major attraction more than 50 years later. The producers have given this release a lot of care, with 23 well-named chapters encoded in the 91-minute movie. It would have been nice to have more extras, but, as far as it goes, this is a more than adequate presentation of the film. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide