The Horse Whisperer (1998)

The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl's equally injured horse.

Director:

Robert Redford

Writers:

Nick Evans (novel) (as Nicholas Evans), Eric Roth (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Tom Booker
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Annie MacLean
Sam Neill	...	Robert MacLean
Dianne Wiest	...	Diane Booker
Scarlett Johansson	...	Grace MacLean
Chris Cooper	...	Frank Booker
Cherry Jones	...	Liz Hammond
Ty Hillman	...	Joe Booker
Kate Bosworth	...	Judith (as Catherine Bosworth)
Austin Schwarz	...	Twin #1
Dustin Schwarz	...	Twin #2
Jeanette Nolan	...	Grandma Ellen Booker
Steve Frye	...	Hank
Don Edwards	...	Smokey
Jessalyn Gilsig	...	Lucy, Annie's Assistant

Storyline

A teenage girl riding a horse is hit by a truck. To help heal her troubled/injured daughter, and horse, the mother takes them to Montana to recuperate at the ranch of a 'horse whisperer', a horse healer of mystical talents. The mother proceeds to fall in love with him, as well.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | horse trainer | rider horse relationship | mother daughter relationship | montana | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a disturbing accident scene

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

El señor de los caballos

Filming Locations:

Greenwich, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,685,488, 17 May 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$75,383,563

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$186,883,563

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

169 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Annie is researching horses and healers in her office, she is drinking from a Seattle's Best Coffee foam coffee cup.

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Goofs

When Grace is watching the show jumping, the commentator says "Pilgrim moves with absolute confidence at the command of Ms. McLean." This makes it clear that it is Grace and Pilgrim jumping. However, the Pilgrim on the TV is a bay with a white blaze. The Pilgrim throughout the film is chestnut with a small white star.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Judith: [waves] Hello!
Grace: [waves] Hello!

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Alternate Versions

The film formats the early scenes at a 1.85: 1 aspect ratio, and the Montana scenes at a wider 2.35: 1 aspect ratio. The Blu-ray release keeps everything at a 2.35: 1 aspect ratio, because if one tried to reproduce both aspect ratios on a Blu-ray, the picture would get smaller during the Montana scenes instead of wider. The screen on an HDTV cannot expand.

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Connections

Referenced in Z Nation: The Murphy (2015)

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Soundtracks

Sonata in F Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 5. No. 1
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax
Courtesy of Sony Classical
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Some of the most beautiful cinematography you will find

It is one of Robert Redford's best - the quiet rancher - meets the pushy high powered NYC editor who is determined to help her daughter after a traumatic riding accident.

As others have mentioned the experience not only changes the horse but most of the "supporting" characters.

The cinematography was powerful - while I am not a student of the discipline I could see that the angles chosen for the subject, the landscape scenes of the beautiful Montana ranges and sunsets - one could watch and understand the movie without the dialog.

I believe Ansel Adams - if he were alive - would love some of these scenes.

I vote this as a "must see" for everyone. It not only has a powerful plot but beautiful cinematography...