November 11 - War Horse

This movie has a scene that happens today – November 11. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

WAR HORSE

Shortly before World War I in Devon, England a thoroughbred colt is born. The colt is later bought by farmer Ted Narracott for 30 guineas ($140.00 in 2013) even though the colt is not the workhorse he really needs. Ted’s son Albert promises his mother Rose he can get the colt, who he names Joey in shape to work on the farm. This expense means Ted cannot pay the rent on his farm, but persuades the landlord, Lyons to give him until autumn, so a rocky, non-productive field can be plowed and planted, providing extra income. Albert learns his father was a brave soldier in the Boer War, even though he now often drinks. Albert’s mother gives him Ted’s regimental pennant. Albert trains Joey and they plow the field. However a storm destroys the crop. The Great War has begun, so Ted is forced to sell Joey to the army, in spite of Albert’s protests. Joey is assigned to Captain James Nicholls, but Albert ties his father’s regimental pennant to Joey. Joey becomes friends with another horse, Topthorn ridden by Major Jamie Stewart. After the regiment overruns a German encampment, they are slaughtered by hidden machine guns, and Joey and Topthorn are captured. Two German soldiers who are brothers, Michael and Gunter, convince their superiors to use Joey and Topthorn as ambulance horses. When Michael, who is really only 14, is ordered to the front, Gunter kidnaps him and takes Joey and Topthorn along. They hide in a windmill, but are discovered and shot as deserters. The horses were left behind and are discovered by Emilie, the granddaughter of the windmill’s owner. When German troops arrive to confiscate al the food on their farm, the two hide the horses, but later when riding Emilie encounters Germans who seize the horses, but her grandfather keeps the pennant that was tied to Joey’s bridle. The two horses are used to pull heavy artillery. Albert has joined the British army by this time. In a charge against the German lines, he is blinded. Topthorn finally dies from exhaustion. During a retreat Joey is separated from his German handler and charges into no-mans-land, but becomes entangled in barbwire. A British soldier, Colin and a German soldier come out and free Joey. Afterwards a coin toss decides Joey will go with Colin. Joey is to be killed due to his injuries, but is saved by the temporarily blinded Albert, who convinces people Joey is indeed his horse. On November 11, 1918 [2:07:30 to 2:08:24] the Great War ends. Joey is auctioned off. Albert bids, but loses him to Emilie’s grandfather, who bids 100 pounds ($6,594.00 in 2013). He had recognized that Joey was the same horse that Emilie loved. However, when Joey tries to leave with Albert, who identifies his father’s regimental pennant, the grandfather gives Joey to Albert. The two return home to Devon.  

A touching story. However, it is certainly not overly sentimental and some scenes are downright brutal. It is a film well worth watching.

The end of the war was on this date as per World War One by Norman Stone (Basic Books, New York, 2007) at page 181

Producer - Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy

Director - Steven Spielberg

Awards – This movie was nominated for the Best Picture, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing Oscars at the 84^th Academy Awards.

Screenplay - Lee Hall and Richard Curtis

Runtime – 2 hours 26 minutes

Released – December 25, 2011

Starring –

Jeremy Irvine as Albert Narracott

Emily Watson as Rose Narracott

Peter Mullan as Ted Narracott

Niels Arestrup as Grandfather

David Thewlis as Lyons

Tom Hiddleston as Captain James Nicholls

Benedict Cumberbatch as Major Jamie Stewart

Céline Buckens as Emilie

Toby Kebbell as Colin, the South Shields soldier

Patrick Kennedy as Lieutenant Charlie Waverly

Leonard Carow as Private Michael Schröder

David Kross as Private Gunther Schröder

Matt Milne as Andrew Easton

Robert Emms as David Lyons

Eddie Marsan as Sergeant Fry

Nicolas Bro as Private Friedrich Henglemann

Rainer Bock as Brandt

Hinnerk Schönemann as Peter, German soldier in No Man's Land

Geoff Bell as Sergeant Sam Perkins

Liam Cunningham as Army Doctor

Gerard McSorley as Market Auctioneer

Tony Pitts as Sergeant Martin

Pip Torrens as Major Tompkins

Philippe Nahon as French Auctioneer

Julian Wadham as British Captain in Trench

David Dencik as German Base Camp Officer

Edward Bennett as Cavalry Recruiting Officer

Johnny Harris as Infantry Recruiting Officer

Tam Dean Burn as British Medic in Trench

Maximilian Brückner as German Artillery Officer

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