Spielberg and Horses
By Leslie Potter
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
By now you have probably heard of War Horse, the young adult novel turned London/Broadway stage sensation. The play recently cleaned up at the Tony Awards, winning the big award for "Best Play" along with five other awards. The production is noted for its use of lifesize horse puppets to portray the equine characters. While the puppets are highly stylized, the trained puppeteers control their every movement and mannerism, creating a convincing equine portrayal.
Or so I'm told. I haven't actually seen it. Have you looked at theater ticket prices lately? You can read more about the stage production and the puppets in the August issue of Horse Illustrated.
Here's what I do know. It's a story about a horse named Joey and his boy, Albert, separated by war, and their journey to reunite. It's said to be a tear-jerker. And if there's anyone who loves a tear-jerker, it's Steven Spielberg. The legendary director/producer got his hands on War Horse and the film version is expected to hit theaters this December. The first official trailer was just released.
No disrespect to Seabiscuit, Secretariat or Dreamer, but I'm kind of excited to see a horse movie that doesn't have a thing to do with racing. War Horse is being marketed a movie for all ages, so bring the kids, but also the tissues. Then we'll wait to see if Joey and Albert can make as much of a splash at the Oscars as they did at the Tonys.
Edit: Here's a newer, longer War Horse trailer. An official release date has been announced. The film will hit theaters in the U.S. on December 25.
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