Miracle of the White Stallions (1963)

In 1945 the fate of Vienna's famous Lipizzaner stallions hangs into balance.American general Patton could save them but first he asks to see them perform.

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

AJ Carothers, Alois Podhajsky (book)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Lilli Palmer, Curd Jürgens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Taylor	...	Col. Podhajsky
Lilli Palmer	...	Vedena Podhajsky
Curd Jürgens	...	Gen. Tellheim (as Curt Jurgens)
Eddie Albert	...	Rider Otto
James Franciscus	...	Maj. Hoffman
John Larch	...	General George S. Patton, Jr.
Brigitte Horney	...	Countess Arco-Valley
Philip Abbott	...	Col. Reed
Charles Regnier	...	Gen. Stryker
Erik Schumann	...	Capt. Ranhoff
Douglas Fowley	...	Lt. General Walton H. Walker
Philo Hauser	...	Dispatcher
Max Haufler	...	Engineer
Michael Janisch	...	Refugee Leader
Fritz Wepper	...	Rider Hans

Storyline

In WWII Austria, Col. Alois Podhajsky must protect his beloved Lipizzaner stallions and make sure that they are surrendered into the right hands. But Patton's something of a horse fancier and can help...if he sees the stallions perform.

---

Plot Keywords:

horse movie | austria | horse | vienna austria | horse breeding | 

---

Taglines:

The day a war stood still!

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | War

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Flucht der weißen Hengste

Filming Locations:

Atelier Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "St. Martin" location where they kept the stallions after the evacuation was at Hermesvilla, a palace in the Lainzer Tiergarten, in Vienna, a former hunting area for the Habsburg nobility. During the post-WWII Russian occupation of Vienna from 1945-1955, the Villa was looted by the Soviets, became run down and remained in poor condition for a number of years. However, in 1963, the Disney movie "Miracle of the White Stallions" brought back the interest in the building. This led to a private initiative that motivated the Austrian authorities to renovate the Villa, and the renovation process lasted from 1968 until 1974.

---

Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

---

Connections

Edited into The Magical World of Disney: Flight of the White Stallions: Part 1 (1965)

---

Soundtracks

Military March #1
(uncredited)
Written by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

Preserving a national treasure

Miracle of the White Stallions is a story set in the final days of World War II in Europe. Robert Taylor plays an Austrian Colonel in the German army. Back in his civilian days he was the head of the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna which featured the famous Lippazaner breed of specially trained horses. The school had been operating in Vienna for four hundred years and its future in doubt with both the American and Russian armies closing in and the Lippazaner mares over in Czechoslovakia.

The performances of these horses had entertained Viennese natives and visitors for generations and they were and are considered a national treasure. The film concerns Robert Taylor's efforts to save the horses aided of course by Lilli Palmer playing his wife.

The criticism of this film is that Taylor's performance is too wooden. But I think the point is missed that he was a single minded man on a mission and apparently flunked out of diplomacy school. Fortunately he's married to Lilli Palmer who smooths a lot of rough edges out during the film. I think that's what was intended in this script.

As the German surrender and Taylor fortunately falls into the hands of the Americans instead of the Russians, he manages to interest an American major played by James Franciscus in his quest. Who then in turn interests the theater commander who is George S. Patton.

As we learned in the movie Patton, George was an old horse cavalry man and even rode in the 1912 Olympics for the United States. Good thing he was in charge instead of Montgomery. Patton is nicely played by character actor John Larch.

Others in the cast of this very nice family film are Eddie Albert as Taylor's aide and Curt Jurgens as a weary German general who helps Taylor in his hour of need.

Nice piece of family entertainment from the Walt Disney studio.