Search - National Velvet on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Child Classic Movie Release: 1944 DVD Release: 07/11/2000 Format: DVD - Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Total Copies: 9 Genres: Children's/Family, Animal Picture, Childhood Drama See Also: National Velvet

Although National Velvet was the first starring role for 11-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, the early part of the film belongs to Mickey Rooney in the showier role of Mike Taylor, a headstrong English ex-jockey. Soured on life by a serious accident, Mike plans to steal from the country family that has taken him in, but his resolve is weakened by the kindness of young Velvet (Taylor). The two find a common bond in their love of horses. Velvet wins an "unbreakable" horse in a raffle, and enters the animal in the Grand National Sweepstakes. Though Mike is unable to ride the horse, he aids Velvet in her plan to disguise herself as a jockey; she wins the race...but the story isn't over quite yet. Co-starring as Velvet's mother is Anne Revere, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance. National Velvet is based on the novel by Enid Bagnold. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Elizabeth Taylor - Velvet Brown
Mickey Rooney - Mike Taylor
Donald Crisp - Mr. Brown
Anne Revere - Mrs. Brown
Angela Lansbury - Edwina Brown

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. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide