MIRACLE OF THE WHITE STALLIONS (DVD) DVD

Miracle of the White Stallions
In a rather confusing and slow-paced manner, this wartime drama about a real-life dilemma is meant to highlight the dedication of Colonel Alois Podhajsky (Robert Taylor), the instructor at a prestigious Vienna equestrian school. The colonel is in charge of the safety and health of the royal Lipizzaner horses and he has a serious problem. He has not been able to secure German permission to leave for a safe haven with the horses and, at the same time, he has to get them together with the Lipizzaner mares in order to continue the species. The trouble is that the mares are in the hands of the enemy. And so the colonel sets out to get the horses through a German checkpoint, and convince General Patton (James Franciscus) to help him with his mission. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Cast Robert Taylor as Col. Podhajsky Lilli Palmer as Vedena Podhajsky Curd Jürgens as Gen. Tellheim Eddie Albert as Rider Otto James Franciscus as Maj. Hoffman John Larch as Gen. Patton Brigitte Horney as Countess Arco-Valley Philip Abbott as Col. Reed Douglas Fowley as U.S. General Charles Regnier as Gen. Stryker Fritz Wepper as Rider Hans Guenther Haenel as Groom Sascha Hans Habietinek as Innkeeper Hager Philo Hauser as Dispatcher Michael Janisch as Refugee Leader Max Haufler as Engineer Robert Dietl as German MP Captain Erik Schumann as German Capt. Danhoff Helmuth Janatsch as Intruder Michael Tellering as Stryker's Adjutant

Crew Peter V. Herald - Associate Producer Leo Bei - Costume Designer Arthur Hiller - Director Cotton Warburton - Editor Fred Srp - Editor Robert B. Sherman - Composer (Music Score) Richard M. Sherman - Composer (Music Score) Paul J. Smith - Composer (Music Score) Isabella Schlichting - Production Designer Werner Schlichting - Production Designer Gunther Anders - Cinematographer Robert Russ - Production Manager Walt Disney - Producer Robert O. Cook - Sound/Sound Designer A.J. Carothers - Screenwriter Col. Alois Podhajsky - Book Author

Miracle of the White Stallions
A Disney film that doesn't quite know whether it is meant for adults or for children, The Miracle of the White Stallions is a fact-based adventure story that is never as exciting or impressive as the true events upon which it is based. A.J. Carothers' screenplay is the main source of the problem, warring with itself by treating the material with too much simplicity for adults but not providing the kids with enough "oomph" to make it worth their while. Director Arthur Hiller does not help matters, starting the film at a sluggish pace and keeping most of it languid, even when the story itself seems to be begging for more energy and verve. Robert Taylor's wooden performance also adds to the film's problems, although Eddie Albert helps to take up the slack whenever he is onscreen, and Curd Jurgens gives a nicely turned performance. Still, Stallions would be all too easy to dismiss were it not for the horses themselves, beautiful beasts whose grace and agility light up the screen. When they're given a chance to strut their stuff, the film breaks free from its usual plodding and manages to soar. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Spanish Sound Processing: DD1: Dolby Digital Mono Additional Features: cc Spanish subtitles DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1: Pre-1954 Standard MPAA Rating: DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 118 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 1. Main Title/Under New Rule [9:13] 2. "Just Say, 'Auf Wiedersehen'" [10:14] 3. Evacuation [8:32] 4. First Taste of War [8:07] 5. A Haven at St. Martin [11:17] 6. Grim Reports, Grim Deeds [8:10] 7. New Orders [8:07] 8. American Help [8:11] 9. Performing for Patton [13:38] 10. Operation Cowboy [11:13] 11. Rescuing the Mares [11:34] 12. In Vienna Once Again [9:19]