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

This is one of three films in which Sam Neill appears that is related to Montana. In The Hunt for Red October (1990), his character reveals his dream to see Montana and in Jurassic Park (1993) he is working in an dinosaur excavation in the state at the beginning of the film.

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Goofs

When Grace first wakes up in the hospital there is a close-up of her face and a cloth or bandage can be seen on her forehead. On the revealing shot, there is nothing there and Annie is seen grabbing a cool cloth and placing it on Grace's forehead.

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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 NCIS: Lost at Sea (2012)

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Soundtracks

A Soft Place to Fall
Written by Allison Moorer and Gwil Owen
Performed by Allison Moorer
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Very well done!

Redford and the entire cast is excellent. The music and scenery is excellent. Saw this movie for the first time three years ago. I rented it due to the "horse" plot and it ended up being a very important movie in my life. I was involved in some very personal problems with my family at the time. What was important to me was that even with the terrible situation Grace was in, there was a way to heal. The most important line in the movie was when Tom Booker makes the comment: "Knowing it is the easy part, saying it out loud is what's difficult" Oh how true this is. A lot of good thoughts in this one. It has my highest recommendation.