My Friend Flicka (1943)

Ken McLaughlin struggles to please his family in any way. He comes back from boarding school boasting poor grades and facing going through the fifth grade again, much to his fathers dismay.... See full summary »

Director:

Harold D. Schuster (as Harold Schuster)

Writers:

Lillie Hayward (screen play by), Francis Edward Faragoh (adaptation) (as Francis Edwards Faragoh)

Stars:

Roddy McDowall, Preston Foster, Rita Johnson

Cast

Cast overview:
Roddy McDowall	...	Ken McLaughlin
Preston Foster	...	Rob McLaughlin
Rita Johnson	...	Nell McLaughlin
James Bell	...	Gus
Patti Hale	...	Hildy (as Diana Hale)
Jeff Corey	...	Tim Murphy

Storyline

Ken McLaughlin struggles to please his family in any way. He comes back from boarding school boasting poor grades and facing going through the fifth grade again, much to his fathers dismay. Ken's mother, Nell, manages to persuade his father Rob to let him choose a colt from the herd for himself. He instead chooses a sorrel chestnut filly, who becomes injured soon after. Can Ken nurse the filly back to full health?

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Plot Keywords:

modern west | animal in cast credits | growing up | cougar | horse movie | 

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Taglines:

A story from the heart of America...to thrill America's heart!

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Genres:

Family | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation on June 7, 1943, with Roddy McDowall and Rita Johnson reprising their film roles.

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Quotes

Ken McLaughlin: I want a colt to be friends with me. I want a colt of my own, all my own.

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Connections

Followed by Thunderhead: Son of Flicka (1945)

User Reviews

I remember the original

I was 8 when I saw the film. As an earlier writer said, it was before TV and during simpler times. I loved it. I haven't seen it for 6o years but some scenes still remain in my memory. Today I took my grandchildren to see Flicka. I was disappointed to find that Ken had been replaced by a nubile teenage girl and the script has been changed dramatically. I wonder what kind of film would have resulted from remaining true to the wonderful novel. It seems that stories for children can't be written now without either animation or high drama or an element of sexuality as shown in the relationship between brother Ryan and Miranda.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 December 1943 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

My Friend Flicka

Filming Locations:

Duck Creek, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1