The Horsemasters

The Horsemasters
Based onThe Horsemasters
by Don Stanford
Written byWilliam Fairchild
Ted Willis
Directed byWilliam Fairchild
StarringTommy Kirk
Annette Funicello
Janet Munro
Donald Pleasence
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
CinematographyFreddie Francis
Running time85 minutes
Production companyWalt Disney Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseOctober 1, 1961 (1961-10-01)

The Horsemasters was a 2-part episode of the Disneyland TV show from 1961 which screened theatrically in some countries.[1][2]

The film was one of several Disney films that were shot in England. The hunt scenes were filmed at Thursley in Surrey, where the Three Horseshoes public house was used as a backdrop. It was Annette Funicello's first co-starring role in a feature film. The film included a song written by the Sherman Brothers, the first song which the duo ever wrote for a Disney project. The film received a comic book adaptation in the Four Color series by Dell Comics.

Plot

A group of young people do a course in horsemanship in England.

Cast

Production

It was based on a 1957 novel by Don Stanford. Film rights were bought by Walt Disney, who authorised a television film version to be shot in England. Disney made a number of films in England around this time, including Greyfriars Bobby.[3] In August 1960 Annette Funicello and Tommy Kirk were cast. It was Funicello's first co-starring role in a feature.[4]

The musical number, "Strummin' Song", performed by Annette Funicello and written by the Sherman Brothers marked the first song the Sherman Brothers ever wrote for a Disney project.[5]

The film was shot on location in England.[6] Filming started September 1960.[7] Funicello and Kirk were sent to England several weeks before filming started to practise their riding.[8]

Funicello says during filming married members of crew would have affairs with the cast, and at times the director "would refer to me dismissively as 'the Disney girl' and make unflattering comments about me. Of course he was not the first and would not be the last to take a dislike to me because he felt I was Mr Disney's 'pet'."[9]

Freddie Francis called it "probably the worst film I've ever done, it really was... I don't know how to describe it, it was absolutely mad. I don't think anybody really believed in the film... any time anybody mentions Horse Masters we just fall about. But we did have a wonderful time. Unbelievable."[10]

Comic book adaptation

References

  1. ^ "HORSEMASTERS, The". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 28, no. 324. London. Jan 1, 1961. p. 114.
  2. ^ "ANNETTE —will she be another Elizabeth Taylor?". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 28, no. [?]. 1 February 1961. p. 5 (Teenagers' Weekly). Retrieved 19 April 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ EUGENE ARCHER (Aug 3, 1960). "DOCUMENTARY SET BY LIONEL ROGOSIN: Producer-Director of 'Come Back, Africa' Plans Film on Peace Movements". New York Times. p. 11.
  4. ^ Vagg, Stephen (9 September 2019). "The Cinema of Tommy Kirk". Diabolique Magazine.
  5. ^ Sherman, Robert B. (1998). Walt's Time (First ed.). Camphor Tree Publishers. pp. 9–11. ISBN 0-9646059-3-7.
  6. ^ Hedda Hoopper (20 Aug 1960). "Walt Disney Will Film Romantic Teen Comedy". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. W17.
  7. ^ A.H. WEILER (Sep 4, 1960). "BY WAY OF REPORT: Disney's Togetherness -- Other Film Matters". New York Times. p. 79.
  8. ^ Funicello, Annette; Bashe, Patricia Romanowski (1994). A dream is a wish your heart makes : my story. Hyperion. p. 123.
  9. ^ Funicello p 124-125
  10. ^ "Interview with Freddie Francis". British Entertainment History Project. 1993–1994.
  11. ^ "Dell Four Color #1260". Grand Comics Database.
  12. ^ Dell Four Color #1260 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)


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