The true story of an Australian racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stableboy.
Director:
Simon WincerWriter:
David Williamson
From metacritic.com
The Mary Poppins Returns star shares her favorite new movie, and the docuseries she's obsessed with.
Related News
-
Phar Lap rewatched – the mystery demise of Australia's finest race horse
07 November 2015 | The Guardian - Film News -
Sound recordist Paul 'Clackers' Clark and SFX guru Conrad Rothmann pass away
15 July 2013 | IF.com.au -
DVD Review: "The Day After Halloween" (1980) From Scorpion Releasing
05 May 2013 | CinemaRetro
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Phar Lap (1983)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
4 wins & 5 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
More Like This
The Man from Snowy River
(1982)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Family
Director:
George Miller
Stars:
Kirk Douglas,
Tom Burlinson,
Terence Donovan
The Black Stallion
(1979)
Adventure
|
Family
|
Sport
Director:
Carroll Ballard
Stars:
Kelly Reno,
Mickey Rooney,
Teri Garr
The Silver Brumby
(1993)
Drama
|
Family
Director:
John Tatoulis
Stars:
Caroline Goodall,
Russell Crowe,
Amiel Daemion
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
(1991)
Drama
|
Family
|
Romance
Director:
Steve Miner
Stars:
Gabrielle Anwar,
Michael Schoeffling,
Cliff Robertson
The Black Stallion Returns
(1983)
Adventure
|
Family
Director:
Robert Dalva
Stars:
Kelly Reno,
Vincent Spano,
Allen Garfield
Secretariat
(2010)
Biography
|
Drama
|
Family
Director:
Randall Wallace
Stars:
Diane Lane,
John Malkovich,
Margo Martindale
Adventure
|
Family
Director:
Stuart McDonald
Stars:
Shane Jacobson,
Sarah Snook,
Alan Tudyk
Storm Boy
(1976)
Drama
|
Family
Director:
Henri Safran
Stars:
Greg Rowe,
Peter Cummins,
David Gulpilil
Sylvester
(1985)
Drama
|
Family
Director:
Tim Hunter
Stars:
Richard Farnsworth,
Melissa Gilbert,
Michael Schoeffling
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tom Burlinson | ... | Tommy Woodcock | |
 |
Richard Morgan | ... | 'Cashy' Martin |
| Robert Grubb | ... | William Nielsen | |
|
|
Simon Wells | ... | Newsboy |
|
|
Kelvyn Worth | ... | Newsboy |
|
|
Justin Ridley | ... | Newsboy |
| Martin Vaughan | ... | Harry Telford | |
|
|
Brian Granrott | ... | Reporter |
|
|
Celia De Burgh | ... | Vi Telford |
|
|
Steven Bannister | ... | Cappy Telford (Younger) |
|
|
Richard Terrill | ... | Cappy Telford (Older) |
| Ron Leibman | ... | Dave Davis | |
|
|
Ross O'Donovan | ... | Strapper |
|
|
Ashley Grenville | ... | Strapper |
|
|
Les Foxcroft | ... | Brazier Man |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (111) »
Storyline
Phar Lap, the legendary Australian racing horse, is as well-known today for his mysterious death as for his fabulous accomplishments in life. Beginning at the end, the film flashes back to the day that Phar Lap, despite his lack of pedigree, is purchased on impulse by trainer Harry Telford. Phar Lap loses his first races, but Telford's faith in the animal is unshakable. Suddenly the horse becomes a winner, thanks to the love and diligence of stableboy Tommy Woodcock. American-promoter Dave Davis arranges for Phar Lap to be entered in several top races, where his "long shot" status results in heavy losses for the professional gamblers. Just after winning an important race in Mexico, Phar Lap collapses and dies; though the film never comes out and says as much, it is assumed that the horse was "murdered" by the gambling interests. Written by Hal Erickson
Plot Keywords:
horse riding | looking out of a window | man wearing glasses | attempted murder | train station |Taglines:
He was the long shot...heard 'round the world. See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
AustraliaLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 April 1984 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Horse Called Phar Lap See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Mort Dixon and Billy Rose
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Tommy Woodcock went on to become a horse trainer. One of his greatest success was Reckless, a horse which won the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups and finished second in the Melbourne Cup in 1977. Tommy was respected for his training methods and his great love for horses. Tommy and his wife, Emma, had no children but their home was always open to the apprentices that Tommy trained. Tommy Woodcock trained horses until he was 78. He donated several of his personal mementoes of Phar Lap to the Museum of Victoria to go with the Museum's exhibit of Phar Lap's hide. See more »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. See more »Quotes
Dave Davis: [seeing Phar Lap when he first arrives in Australia as a young colt] This is not a horse, Harry. This is a cross between a sheepdog and a kangaroo.See more »
Alternate Versions
The original release opens with Phar Lap's death, with the rest of the film told in flashback. For it's American release where the story of Phar Lap is less known, the opening was removed, making Phar Lap's unexpected death more dramatic. See more »Soundtracks
Follow the Swallow(uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Mort Dixon and Billy Rose
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.Contribute to This Page
Enjoy a night in with these popular movies available to stream now with Prime Video.
For ANYone out there who is: A) an avid horse racing fan B) loves remarkable stories
or C) doesn't need an "all-star" cast to recognize a great film/story.
Phar Lap is great. Find out what happens to a sport when a freak of nature comes on the scene and creates a world-wide panic. From simple fans, horse & animal lovers, politicians and even the mafia. A story that will touch and amaze you in ways you never dreamed possible. See the lengths man would go to get "even" the playing field. Then watch as this thoroughbred smashes the measures taken. If you thought "Old Yeller" was great (and it was), this movie should knock your socks off. It's an amazing true story that MUST be seen to be believed. Forget "Black Stallion" and the rest. Phar Lap is FANtastic!!