Phar Lap (1983)

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writer:

David Williamson (written by)

Release Date:

10 August 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Family | History | Sport

Tagline:

When he beat the odds, they changed the rules. When he broke the records, they weighed him down. But he had one thing on his side...the faith of a boy. Together they lived a legend that inspired a nation and won the heart of the world.

Plot:

The true story of a Australian racehorse that becomes a champion with the help of a local stableboy.

Plot Keywords:

Horse | Stableboy | Racehorse | Death | Animal

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Tom Burlinson	...	Tommy Woodcock
Richard Morgan	...	'Cashy' Martin
Robert Grubb	...	William Nielsen
Simon Wells	...	Newsboy
Kelvyn Worth	...	Newsboy
Justin Ridley	...	Newsboy
Martin Vaughan	...	Harry Telford
Brian Granrott	...	Reporter
Celia De Burgh	...	Vi Telford
Steven Bannister	...	Cappy Telford (Younger)
Richard Terrill	...	Cappy Telford (Older)
Ron Leibman	...	Dave Davis
Ross O'Donovan	...	Strapper
Ashley Grenville	...	Strapper
Les Foxcroft	...	Brazier Man

Also Known As:

A Horse Called Phar Lap (USA) (promotional title)
Phar Lap: Heart of a Nation
Phar Lap: Hero to a Nation (Australia) (promotional title)

Runtime:

USA:107 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:PG (certificate #27386) | Finland:S | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Kurnell Sandhills, Kurnell, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Michael Edgley International

Trivia:

Tommy Woodcock went on to become a horse trainer. One of his greatest success was Reckless, a horse which won the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups and finished second in the Melbourne Cup in 1977. Tommy was respected for his training methods and his great love for horses. Tommy and his wife, Emma, had no children but their home was always open to the apprentices that Tommy trained. Tommy Woodcock trained horses until he was 78. He donated several of his personal mementoes of Phar Lap to the Museum of Victoria to go with the Museum's exhibit of Phar Lap's hide.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pyjama Girl Mystery: A True Story of Murder, Obsession and Lies (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

California, Here I Come

Before there was Seabiscuit there was Phar Lap

*****SPOILERS***** True story about the New Zealand wounder horse that nobody wanted at first and that almost no horse could beat in the end.

Phar Lap ran up a string of victories from Australia to the United States that astounded the racing world then and even now it's hard to believe that such a race horse ever existed, he was just that good. like the saying goes: "It too good to be true" but it is. Winning 37 out of 51 races in his racing career with 14 wins in a row between 1930-1931 the only thing that could beat Phar Lap was the crushing weight that local handicappers put on his back to give the other horses racing against him a chance.

In Phar Lap's last race in 1932 he traveled to the United States to race against the best racehorses in the world at the Agua Caliente race track on the Mexican border. It was there for the first time in his life Par Lap raced on dirt not grass where he ran on in all his races and not only won but broke the track and world record for a mile and a quarter doing it. Tragically a month later Phar Lap collapsed and died in his stable.

Moving as well as exciting film about the great Phar Lap with Tom Burlinson excellent as Tommy Woodcock, the young stable boy who was the only one who had any faith in the horses ability and brought the best out of Phar Lap when everyone else gave up on him. With top performances from Ron Leibman and Martin Vaughan as Phar Lap's owner and trainer who over the years with him began to see Phar Lap not as a racehorse but almost human.

One of the most stirring finals you'll ever see in any movie with Phar Lap beating the best there is in the world of horse racing in the Mexican desert at the Agua Caliente race track racing with an injured hoof and carrying a high weight of 129 pounds. Later after the race when Phar lap breaks down and dies the shock and heart felt loss, especially by young Tommy Woodcock, was one of the most touching and moving scenes I've ever seen in any film. You can really see what that horse meant to everyone who had the privilege to be involved with him. Great movie, but what makes it even greater is that the story is unbelievably true.

P.S One more thing about the movie, the part of Phar Lap was played by a horse named Towering Inferno.