BORN TO RUN
US, 1977, 87 minutes, Colour.
Tom Farley, Robert Bettles, Andrew Mc Farlane, Mary Ward, Wyn Roberts, Kit Taylor, John Meillon, Alexander Archdale. Directed by Don Chaffey.
Ride a Wild Pony and Born to Run are two Walt Disney films produced in Australia. The director of each was Don Chaffey, who made The Fourth Wish and also made Pete's Dragon for Disney. Both films are about horses and ponies and appeal to younger audiences entertained by animal stories. They both star Robert Bettles, who also appeared in The Fourth Wish. Bettles is at times an abrasive young boy not the ordinary endearing Hollywood hero of Disney films. Ride a Wild Pony was filmed in Chiltern, Victoria and Born to Win around the Newcastle area. They both are period films and portray the Australian countryside and the period very attractively. Animal story, children, animals, striving to achieve are part of the ingredients which ensure success.
1. For whom was the film made? Children's audience, adults? An Australian audience? International? An Australian Disney film?
2. The importance of Australian locations, countryside, houses and estates, farms, towns, city, country horse-racing? The re-creation of the early 20th century?
3. The appeal of animal films, ponies, training, races? The title?
4. Where was audience identification - with Teddy? With the horses? The training, the presentation of the family, the race and the various heats and the difficulties?
5. How attractive a character was Matthew Boyd? The cranky old grandfather type, yet endearing? His relationship with Teddy, with Doone? His reputation in the town, borrowing money, mortgages? His sister looking down on him? His training of ponies and love of these? His discovery of Ira and his keeping of the ponies, his taking them over? His eye for a good pony? His training them, his antagonism towards the McGinnis? family? The build-up to the race, the third mortgage? The risks? His success at the end? Likeable but cantankerous?
6. Teddy and his relationship to his grandfather, seeing him race the Mc Ginnis at the beginning? Indication of his later success? At home, at work, liked in the town? His training of the ponies, especially after the impact of the death of his colt? His relationship with his brother? With Kathy? The sequences of training, his standing back at the race and yet his enjoyment, the opportunity for him to drive Dandy Boy and win? A likeable hero? A credible boy?
7. The contrast with Doone and his doing the work on the farm, trying to save the foal? His relationship with his grandfather and his antagonism, his relationship with his brother? His delight in seeing Kathy and their sequences together - with Teddy's ironic comments? The humour of them being in the water? The possibilities for Doone and the future? The lack of money? The build-up to the training of Dandy Boy and Doone's ability, his fight with the thugs and his having to give race to Teddy? His regaining Kathy after his period of jealousy and the hopelessness of their getting married?
8, The humour with Aunt Marian, her tough attitude towards her brother, the closing down of the estate? Her brother approaching her and the catastrophe with the greenhouse? Her arrival for the race, bets? The happy ending? Kathy as heroine - her love for Doone, her visit, the flirtation with Paul Sandford? The happy ending? An appropriate romantic sub-plot for the film?
9. Mc Ginnis and his son and their arrogance, the bet, the training, the suspicions that they had hired the thugs, the fair competition at the end?
10. Paul Sandford and his bet, his seeming pleasantness, flirtation with Kathy, the fact that he had hired the toughs, his foul methods and his exclusion from the race?
11. The excitement of the race and the heats, the country atmosphere, the finale and the achievement?
12. A satisfying story which retained the interest, pace? Winning and achievement, the presentation of people and their ordinary lives, within the early period of Australian history? Colourful, a rousing score? The right blend for family entertainment?
