CORRECTION: National Velvet is a 1945 film not 1944 as indicated.
I suppose this beloved classic about horse racing will never be forgotten for its legendary story but foremost for its cast, young and old. The juvenile leads will always remain household names, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, in particular but also the late Mickey Rooney and a once superior film and television star, the beloved 5 time Broadway Tony Award Winner, ANGELA LANSBURY who in 1944 was Oscar Nominated for Gaslight, her very first film, in the role of the devious young maid, a role in total antithesis to her part in National Velvet. But there are some veteran players not be overlooked like the beloved Donald Crisp, Butch Jenkins, Arthur Treacher, Reginald Owen, the first talking SCROOGE in movies from 1932 and a great character actress in Norma Varden. But aside from Liz Taylor's unforgettable 12 year old girl with a dream we should try to remember that MISS ANNE REVERE (the mother) won A BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AWARD at the 1946 Academy Celebration for films of 1945. And she had formidable competition that year from EVE ARDEN and ANN BLYTHE both from MILDRED PIERCE, ANGELA LANSBURY once again for THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY and a young JOAN LORRING as the young strumpet from the wonderful BETTE DAVIS prestige film THE CORN IS GREEN. I look back and marvel how wonderful it must have all been, Studio System and all. No! I'm not a veteran of that golden age. It would be 30 years more before even being born.
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