Hidalgo (2004)

In 1890, a down-and-out cowboy and his horse travel to Arabia to compete in a deadly cross desert horse race.

Director:

Joe Johnston

Writer:

John Fusco

Stars:

Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Viggo Mortensen	...	Frank Hopkins
Zuleikha Robinson	...	Jazira
Omar Sharif	...	Sheikh Riyadh
Louise Lombard	...	Lady Anne Davenport
Adam Alexi-Malle	...	Aziz
Saïd Taghmaoui	...	Prince Bin Al Reeh
Silas Carson	...	Katib
Harsh Nayyar	...	Yusef
J.K. Simmons	...	Buffalo Bill Cody
Adoni Maropis	...	Sakr
Victor Talmadge	...	Rau Rasmussen
Peter Mensah	...	Jaffa
Joshua Wolf Coleman	...	The Kurd
Franky Mwangi	...	Slave Boy
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman	...	Chief Eagle Horn (as Floyd Red Crow Westerman)

Storyline

Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire--a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian desert--was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy sheik invited an American, Frank T. Hopkins, and his horse to enter the race for the first time. During the course of his career, Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the U.S. cavalry--and had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheik puts his claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world's greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders--some of whom are determined to prevent a foreigner from finishing the race. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a race for his very survival as he and his horse attempt the impossible.

---

Plot Keywords:

glacier national park | horse movie | horse | race | cowboy | 

---

Taglines:

Experience the incredible true story of a man who left behind the world he knew, and found the courage to do the impossible

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | Sport | Western

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for adventure violence and some mild innuendo

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Terra [Spain]

Country:

USA Morocco

Language:

English Arabic Sioux

Release Date:

5 March 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Océano de fuego

Filming Locations:

Sierra Railroad, Jamestown, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,829,435, 7 March 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$67,286,731, 18 July 2004

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$40,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Casey Silver Productions, Dune Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Fusco named one of his horses Hidalgo while he was writing the movie.

---

Goofs

The well scene features British soldiers preventing the main character from getting water. The British did not have a military presence in that area until after World War One.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Frank T. Hopkins: [to Hidalgo] C'mon little brother. Checkout time. Yeah.

---

Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Shutter Island/The Ghost Writer/Happy Tears (2010)

---

Soundtracks

Buffalo Bill's Equestrian March
Written by William Paris Chambers (uncredited)
Performed by The Americus Brass Band

User Reviews

Let 'er buck.

I have seen this film before, but I felt compelled to watch again yesterday in memory of Floyd Red Crow Westerman (Chief Eagle Horn), who died last week.

This is a thrilling movie about persistence and will. It has all the excitement you could wish for in a western-type movie, and it has subplots that are truly interesting.

Viggo Mortensen is perfect in his role of a half Sioux/half American rider that is struggling with finding out who he really is inside. Zuleikha Robinson was intriguing as the daughter of the Sheikh who knew who she was and wanted others to recognize it. Seeing Omar Sharif as the Sheikh was a thrill as it has been too long since I have last seen him.

A thrilling film blending the cultures of two peoples of the horse.