The Littlest Horse Thieves (1976)
"Escape from the Dark" (original title)

When the owner of a Yorkshire coal-mine decides to mechanize to increase profits, the mine's pit ponies are scheduled to be destroyed. So, three children plan to steal them to keep them ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Jarrott

Writers:

Burt Kennedy (story), Rosemary Anne Sisson (screenplay),

Stars:

Alastair Sim, Peter Barkworth, Maurice Colbourne

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alastair Sim	...	Lord Harrogate
Peter Barkworth	...	Richard Sandman
Maurice Colbourne	...	Luke Armstrong
Susan Tebbs	...	Violet Armstrong
Andrew Harrison	...	Dave Sadler
Chloe Franks	...	Alice Sandman
Benjie Bolgar	...	Tommy Sadler
Prunella Scales	...	Mrs. Sandman
Leslie Sands	...	Foreman Sam Carter
Joe Gladwin	...	Bert
Jeremy Bulloch	...	Ginger
Derek Newark
Duncan Lamont
Ian Hogg
Richard Warner

Storyline

When the owner of a Yorkshire coal-mine decides to mechanize to increase profits, the mine's pit ponies are scheduled to be destroyed. So, three children plan to steal them to keep them safe. But when they're caught, it's up to the mine owners and the miners themselves to decide what's right.

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Plot Keywords:

children | coal mine | pony | miner | horse

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Genres:

Family | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 March 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Littlest Horse Thieves

Filming Locations:

North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Working title "Pit Ponies"

User Reviews

A special movie for me

This movie has a special place for me. As well as being a real tearjerker (if you love horses) all of the pit scenes were filmed at the end of my garden! My mum was an extra as was my grandfather and his brother in law and even his goat! Even 30 years on the "pit tip" were it was filmed is still there, although a little over grown. When I watch this film I can clearly remember the scenes where the children plot to free the ponies. The top of the hill were they lay spying was a grass covered ramp at the end of my paddock.

Other films were also made in and on the same road.. "The Price of Coal" and "The Gamekeeper" by Barry Heines. Yes the village I lived in and where my parent still live was in much demand in the 1970'sw