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IMDbPro

Phar Lap

  • 19831983
  • PGPG
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Phar Lap (1983)
The true story of an Australian racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stableboy.
Play trailer2:17
1 Video
4 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Family
The true story of an Australian racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stableboy.The true story of an Australian racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stableboy.The true story of an Australian racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stableboy.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Simon Wincer
  • Writer
    • David Williamson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Burlinson
    • Judy Morris
    • Martin Vaughan
Top credits
  • Director
    • Simon Wincer
  • Writer
    • David Williamson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Tom Burlinson
    • Judy Morris
    • Martin Vaughan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:17
    Trailer

    Photos

    Phar Lap (1983)
    Phar Lap (1983)
    Phar Lap (1983)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tom Burlinson
    Tom Burlinson
    • Tommy Woodcock
    Judy Morris
    Judy Morris
    • Bea Davis
    Martin Vaughan
    Martin Vaughan
    • Harry Telford
    Celia De Burgh
    • Vi Telford
    Ron Leibman
    Ron Leibman
    • Dave Davis
    Vincent Ball
    Vincent Ball
    • Lachlan McKinnon
    John Stanton
    John Stanton
    • Eric Connolly
    Peter Whitford
    Peter Whitford
    • Bert Wolfe
    Robert Grubb
    Robert Grubb
    • William Nielsen
    Richard Morgan
    Richard Morgan
    • 'Cashy' Martin
    Gia Carides
    Gia Carides
    • Emma
    • (as Georgia Carr)
    James Steele
    • Jim Pike
    Simon Wells
    • Newsboy
    Kelvyn Worth
    • Newsboy
    Justin Ridley
    • Newsboy
    Brian Granrott
    • Reporter
    Steven Bannister
    • Cappy Telford (Younger)
    Richard Terrill
    • Cappy Telford (Older)
    • Director
      • Simon Wincer
    • Writer
      • David Williamson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Billy Eliot, Phar Lap's jockey at Agua Caliente had been devastated by Phar Lap's mysterious death, gave his saddle to George Woolf as a gesture of friendship. Woolf went on to become one of America's greatest riders, using the saddle on his favourite mount, Seabiscuit (2003), who, like Phar Lap, captivated a nation in the midst of the depression. The saddle was Woolf's lucky charm. From that date on until the time of his death he used it. Coincidentally, the only time he did not use it, from the time when Elliot gifted it to Woolf, was in his last race which he, unfortunately, was killed in.
    • Goofs
      Early in the film, in early 1928, Phar Lap's trainer Harry Telford (Martin Vaughan) insists that the horse's name must contain seven letters, because the names of the last four Melbourne Cup winners had contained seven letters. In fact, only one of the previous four Melbourne Cup winners in the period in question, 1924-27, had seven letters in its name - Windbag, in 1925. The other winners in that period were Backwood (1924), Spearfelt (1926) and Trivalve (1927). Nor did the subsequent 1928 winner, Statesman, nor the 1929 winner, Nightmarch (to whom Phar Lap ran third), have seven letters in their names.
    • Quotes

      Sub Editor: We have two versions ready to go. If he wins, "Australian wonder horse beats the world."

      news writer: And if he loses?

      Sub Editor: "New Zealand horse fails in Mexico."

    • Alternate versions
      The original release opens with Phar Lap's death, with the rest of the film told in flashback. For its American release where the story of Phar Lap is less known, the opening was removed, making Phar Lap's unexpected death more dramatic.
    • Connections
      Featured in 20 to 1: Greatest Sports Movies of All Time (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Phar Lap - Farewell to You
      Written by Jack Lumsdaine (as Lumsden)

      Vocal: Brian Hannan

    User reviews34

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    TRULY REMARKABLE FILM...WILL MAKE YOU A HORSE LOVER OUT OF YOU!!!
    This is a fantastic movie! The best part about it is that it's based on the true story of a horse named Phar Lap, which means lightning in Chinese. This story tells you about the life of this horse, who was laughed at as a yearling, because of his skinny and scraggly appearance and ugly head and his inability to really "move". He was purchased to be a racehorse, and he was from good bloodlines, but he was bought for a mere pittance compared to what a typically good horse would cost. His trainer Harry Telford was about to give up on him and sell him at the owners request, an American named Dave Davis . Harry's assistant and strapper, Tommy Woodcock, begged for them to give HIM a chance with the horse. He had developed a strong bond with Phar Lap and really was attached to him. Given a chance with the horse, Tommy would show them all, as he took over the training. He worked the horse gently and steadfastly. The horse soon grew into a massive, muscular and handsome horse, worthy of anyone's attention. Phar Lap loved Tommy so much that he would do anything Tommy put forward for him to do. He started training and running at lighting speed and before long and was taken to the tracks to race against the two top horses in Australia.....where he won by a landslide! He raced and won the Melbourne Cup as well as many other famous races. He lived only 3 short years but won 30 races in that period. He ran against the best, and had many fans but many foes as well, since he was the fastest horse around. There were threats placed on his life if he were to continue racing. This is how awesome this horse was. He had intimidated the world of racing with his ability to out race all others, even with the heavy handicaps they tried to bring him down with. He proved to be unbeatable, even with the record breaking weight the Australian Horse Racing Association made him run with. He was so good that he was interfering with the odds at the races as no one could beat him. This did not make the bookmakers happy. He mysteriously died after a Huge race in America called the "Agua Caliente". He became one of the worlds most famous horses of all time. If you love horses, or you even like them a little, then see this movie and it will change your perspective on horses forever! TWO THUMBS UP, AAA+, and 5 STARS!
    helpful•12
    2
    • chmozart
    • Apr 12, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 13, 1984 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Horse Called Phar Lap
    • Filming locations
      • St James Street, Geelong West, Victoria, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Michael Edgley International
      • Phar Lap Management
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,878,404
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,878,404
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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