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National Velvet

1945
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Wishes, Wagers, Obsession, Village life, Family relationships, Horses, Butchers, Male impersonation, Grand National Steeplechase, Hired hands

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Cast: Mickey Rooney, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor
Director: Clarence Brown
Writer: Theodore Reeves, Helen Deutsch
Cinematographer: Leonard Smith
Editor: Robert J. Kern
Production Designers: Cedric Gibbons, Urie McCleary
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.

NATIONAL VELVET (1945) was Elizabeth Taylor’s breakout role, although the 12-year-old had been cast in four features films already. Despite Taylor’s stellar performance and her life-long experience riding horses, Mickey Rooney received top billing. During production, 23-three-year-old Rooney was preparing for service in WWII. Angela Lansbury, who was 19 at the time, made her second film appearance in NATIONAL VELVET… Learn more at the AFI Catalog  

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