THE BLACK STALLION RETURNS

US, 1983, 98 minutes, Colour.
Hoyt Axton, Kelly Reno, Vincent Spano, Allen Goorwitz.
Directed by Robert Dalva.

One of the most popular films of 1979-80 was The Black Stallion, produced by Francis Ford Coppola and his Zoetrope Studios. The first part was lyrical beauty as boy found horse and trained him on a Mediterranean island. The second part was regular family entertainment with the training of the racehorse (by Mickey Rooney in an Oscar-nominated performance) and the friendship of horse and boy to ultimate success in a championship race. The sequel takes up where the original ended. It is also based on a novel by author Walter Farley - who wrote in the '40s.

Alec is once again played by Kelly Reno. Teri Garr makes a short appearance as his mother. However, the attraction of the present film is its North African locations with beautiful photography of the African desert. The film shows the North African way of life seen by the brash American young man. The ways of life are contrasted. There is adventure in the desert and ultimately another race. While the film lacks the novelty and lyrical poetry of the original, it has excellent desert location work and the same interesting story with appeal for all generations, boys and girls.

1. The popularity of the original film and novel? The '40s presented for the '80s? The popularity of films about horses and their training and racing? The focus on the young hero? Achievement and success? The need for a sequel?

2. The quality of the sequel in itself, in comparison with the original? Based on a sequel novel? A conscience return and presupposition of the original as regards characters and themes?

3. The appeal of the film: to American audiences, world-wide audiences? To boys, to girls? To adults? To those who love animals? The blend of the exotic with the personal and the sense of achievement?

4. The American prologue: the focus on Alec, his love for the black, the concern of his mother? The background of the five-year race in North Africa? The Berbers and the rogue tribe, the Uruks? Both groups trying to get the black? The Uruks and the fire? The Berbers and the taking of the black? Alec's chase in the horse float, to the ship? His ringing his mother, the travel agency, the tour of the flying boat and his being able to stow away, his hunger and cold, discovery? His taking chances and luck favouring him? The quick pace of the initial action?

5. The transition to African locations: Casablanca in the '40s, officialdom, the marketplace, the crowds of boys and their helping him? The truck ride into the desert? The colour photography of the desert and the variety of locations: sand, mountains, hills, oases, the village, the course for the race? Beauty and harshness? The film's using the desert atmosphere? The musical score contributing to the mood and atmosphere?

6. The focus on the tribes in the desert: their being at home, aware of the dangers, travel, animals, laws of hospitality, traditions - and the Uruks wanting to break them? Rogue tribes? The possibility of death by thirst? oases, mirages, rivers? The desert as seen through the eyes of the American boy?

7. Alec and his brashness, courage? His not being sensitive to the Arab lifestyle? Companionship, travel, traditions - eating, travelling, hospitality? The help that he received? Dangers? His focus on himself, growing awareness of others, the winning of the race and giving the black to the tribe? His attitudes being transformed?

8. Alec and his friendship with Raj, the possibility of their dying in the desert, mutual help? Rivalry in the race? Bonds of friendship? The Berber chief and the girl - suspicion and hostility? His riding the horse, helping the girl after her falls, using his wits to escape from the Uruks? Being allowed to ride and win? The Uruks - as comic villains? In America, the truck-ride, abandoning Alec in the desert, the capture of the horse? Sabotage during the race? Their finally being captured?

9. The presentation of the Arabs, both good and bad? Friendship, betrayal, double-dealing? Loyalty and support?

10. Raj and his belonging to two worlds, helping Alec, his being a rival, the taking of the horses - but his being allowed to keep his?

11. The film's focus on the horses: beauty, strength, racing, free in the desert? Audience response to the beauty of racing horses? The race itself and its excitement? Obstacles and dangers?

12. A satisfying piece of family entertainment? The American dream? The helpful contrast of the American lifestyle and attitudes with that of the tribes of North Africa? The affirming of human values?