cis_40
I loved this movie... saw it as a kid in the theater... always watched it on television over the years... but haven't seen it for years... I always cried... at the age of 71, I still remember the powerful story... Even better than National Velvet. Was the first war movie that I can remember seeing. I think I was about 9 when I saw it the first time at the theater. Any horse lover would never forget it.. I will have to see if Netflix has it.. I remember my scariest part was when Bess got bogged down in the mud and they were trying to get her out... because I was so young, the war part scared me.. but I truly loved the horse.
Lydeckers
I too was a horse crazy little girl when I saw the movie, Gallant Bess. I have never forgotten that movie and have looked and looked for years to get a copy. Of all the animal movies I have watched and I either own or have seen almost all of them that have come out over the years, including TV series animal shows, this movie made one of the deepest impressions on me. I am so happy to know who now owns the rights to it and that it has been aired in more recent years. I own and show many, many dogs and have had horses up to about two years ago (I am now 68), but this movie has stayed with me all my life. I will continue to pursue the purchase of it somehow, someway. Most of all, I am thrilled to find out that the horse and the story are true. That makes it even more endearing. Maybe if enough of us hound Turner Classic Movies, they will at least air it again so we can tape it or buy it someday.
Silver Dollar
My mother drove me to school, one morning when I was nine. On the way, she mystified me by announcing she'd pick me up early. She wouldn't say why, just smiled and said it'd be a surprise. In my family, you did't skip school for anything less than snow, illness, or death. so this was odd.I wondered about the surprise thing all morning. At noon, Mom picked me up and drove me home. My favorite lunch was waiting on the table. I thought that was the surprise, but no, she said, something else was yet to come....After lunch, she planted the two of us in front of the TV and told me, "There's a special movie on, this afternoon. I want you to see it."It was "Gallant Bess."I was a horse-crazy little girl with my own horse standing in a corral out back, but I remember being extraordinarily touched by "Gallant Bess." The adults in my life were still talking about WWII as if it'd just happened, so that seemed very close to me, too. I felt for that farm boy who lost his mare, Bess, to the WWII cause, and found her again, in what I was told was based on a true story. By the end, I was so caught up in empathizing with that young man and the horse, the ending seemed scary and amazing and is still clear in my mind's eye.I suppose, compared to the high-tech, computer-enhanced images of today's films, "Gallant Bess" may seem mild. Those were simpler times. Maybe the acting's not outstanding, but there's a goodly amount of action and suspense.This film impressed my mother so much that she took me out of school to see it. Once I'd seen it, I understood why. If you like a moving animal story, or if you've got a horse-crazy little kid in your house, y'all should see it, too.
l385298
This is one of two war movie ( The other was Sargent York)that I remember enjoying as a youth. I love movies with horses. Other movies I enjoyed are My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead(Son of Flicka) and Tonka(Disney movie). There was plenty of action in the film and a lot of sentiment. It has been a long time since I saw this movie. However, I liked it so much, I can close my eyes and mental see the story. I have been searching for a copy of this movie for several years.