National Velvet - Bet You Didn't Know.....

We've all loved and enjoyed Elizabeth Taylor's entre into stardom in National Velvet. She and Mickey Rooney captured the hearts of millions and no matter how many times I watch this movie, I still love it and I still cry. If you have not seen National Velvet, run, don't walk, and download it or order the DVD from Amazon.

Everyone wants to know what happened to the horse in the movie.  Taylor fell from the horse and broke her back during the filming of the racing scene. Although she recovered quickly, she suffered greatly later in life. ... After production was completed, arrangements were made to allow Taylor to keep the horse.  The horse was King Charles and Taylor discovered him while visiting the Rivera Country Club.  He was bought for $800 by MGM and she rode him daily while preparing for the movie.  At the end of the movie MGM gifted him to Taylor and she kept him until he died. The horse was also a grand-son of Man O' War and had been trained as a show jumper.

Did you know that the story that Mi (Mickey Rooney) tells to Donald Brown (played by Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins) about a shipwrecked horse is based on a true story about a New Zealand-bred thoroughbred named “Moiffa” who did in fact survive his ordeal and went on to win the Grand National the following year. You can find that story here.

Did you know that Mickey Rooney had to film all of his scenes in one month before he had to report for basic training to serve in World War II?

Eighteen-year-old Gene Tierney had been set to portray Velvet Brown. When this movie was delayed, Tierney signed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. 

Carl and Eleanor Goldbogen appeared as extras in the crowd scenes. Carl's brother was Avrom Goldbogen, professionally known as producer Mike Todd, who became Dame Taylor's third husband in 1957. 

If you have not seen National Velvet treat yourself.  Great movies never get old. This one fits that category.