The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)

Horse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece, Margaret, come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother, Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, ... See full summary »

Director:

David Butler

Writer:

John Taintor Foote

Stars:

Shirley Temple, Barry Fitzgerald, Lon McCallister

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Shirley Temple	...	Margaret O'Hara / Knowles
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Shawn O'Hara
Lon McCallister	...	Ted Knowles
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Mrs. Charles S. Howard
Donald MacBride	...	George Carson
Pierre Watkin	...	Charles S. Howard
William Forrest	...	Thomas Milford
Joe Hernandez	...	Race Commentator
Hal J. Moore	...	Race Commentator (as Hal Moore)
Clem McCarthy	...	Race Commentator
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sugarfoot Anderson	...	Walkin' Murphy - Milford's Boy (as 'Sugarfoot' Anderson)
Seabiscuit	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Horse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece, Margaret, come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother, Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Shawn takes a liking to a yearling named Seabiscuit, and fights to convince the horse's owner that the tiny horse with big knees will become a top-notch racehorse. Meanwhile, Margaret begins a tentative relationship with jockey Ted Knowles, but is haunted by her brother's death in a steeplechase spill.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | kentucky | jockey | horse trainer | seabiscuit | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

A História de Um Vencedor

Filming Locations:

Santa Anita Park & Racetrack - 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 93 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The horse which plays Seabiscuit was a cousin to the real Seabiscuit.

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Goofs

Seabiscuit's pre-Charles S. Howard silks are shown as green and white. Before Howard bought him Wheatley Stables owned Seabiscuit. Their silks were golden yellow with purple sleeves and cap.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: [voice over narration] Here in Kentucky is the Blue Grass Country where champions are born. Black, beige and chestnut. Glorious creatures. Born to run and keep on running.

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Connections

Featured in Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed (1968)

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Soundtracks

My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night
(uncredited)
Music by Stephen Foster
Played during the opening scene

User Reviews

Seabiscuit by a mile

Although the fine version from 2003 about Seabiscuit that Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire brought to the screen is far more factual, this B film that stars Barry Fitzgerald and Shirley Temple should please fans of the sport of kings. Considering what the costs are to maintain horse racing as a sport only royalty or those considered royal in their societies can afford to participate other than at the $2.00 parimutuel window at the track.

For reasons not quite clear Barry Fitzgerald together with niece Shirley Temple are brought over from Ireland because stable owner William Forrest has heard of Fitzgerald's legendary ability to judge thoroughbred horseflesh. Of course that brings him into contact with Donald MacBride who is already Forrest's trainer and they disagree over a yearling that Fitzgerald sees promise in and MacBride doesn't. Barry leaves and goes to work for Pierre Watkin and Rosemary DeCamp and later on they acquire the horse now named Seabiscuit.

A young jockey played by Lon McCallister, the part Tobey Maguire played in 2003 is interested in Shirley Temple and the fictional romance doesn't interfere with Seabiscuit's legendary exploits on the track. Newsreel footage of the famous match race with Triple Crown winner War Admiral is shown in its entirety with Clem McCarthy's famous call of the race. Including McCarthy who was one of the great sports announcers of all time really captures the flavor of the period. McCarthy's voice is also the one covering the famous second and very short Joe Louis/Max Schmeling fight. Horse racing was his first love however and McCarthy covered and called every major race in a 20 year period.

It's not as good as the newer film, but The Story Of Seabiscuit while its characters are superficial does capture the racing scene of the time.