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.

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Plot Keywords:

year 1945 | george s. patton character | alois podhajsky character | spanish riding school vienna | equestrian | 

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Taglines:

The day a war stood still!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The red uniform that is used at the end of the movie is not original. The Spanish Riding school never used a red uniform. Disney found the original brown uniform too simple for a gala opening and introduced these uniforms.

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Goofs

[All goofs for this title are spoilers.]

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

Military March #1
(uncredited)
Written by Franz Schubert

User Reviews

A well told, seldom heard, story of WWII

Until I saw this film, I was unaware of the peril in which the famous Viennese "Spanish Riding School" had been in during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Robert Taylor (Col. Podhajsky) helped rectify that with quite a touching portrayal of the Director of that school who has to convince the authorities - both Nazi and American - of the merits of protecting the rare Lipizzaner horses from extinction. It's a Disney film, so we are spared any brutality or exposure to the unpleasantness of war, but it still manages to convey something of the real danger this internationally renowned institution faced. Taylor manages by feats of legerdemain and sheer effrontery - aided by his sidekick Eddie Albert, his sympathetic commanding officer Curt Jürgens and James Franciscus, an American officer who had seen the Colonel ride in the Olympics - to smuggle the stallions out of Vienna as the Allies approach, but how to reconcile them with their mares (stranded in soon-to-be Russian Czechoslovakia) left a problem that could only be sorted by equine lover Gen. George S. Patten (John Larch). There are good supporting efforts from Brigitte Horney as the Countess who offers them a refuge and from Lilli Palmer as his wife, and it is an enjoyable watch with something of the skill of these beautiful horses and their riders demonstrated at the end.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miracle of the White Stallions

Filming Locations:

Atelier Rosenhügel, Vienna, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1