Thunderhead - Son Of Flicka

Thunderhead - Son Of Flicka
1945 20th Century Fox
Directed by Louis King



SYNOPSIS
In this sequel to My Friend Flicka, (reviewed here) Ken McLaughlin (Roddy McDowell) is searching for Flicka who didn't return with the herd. He finds her with her young colt, who's quickly named Goblin. Ken dreams of having a racehorse and riding it to victory. Before that happens, the free-spirited Goblin needs to be tamed. Meanwhile, a wild albino horse has been taking mares from the McLaughlin farm and others, and causing severe hardship for Ken's family. Despite the financial problems, Ken's dad (Preston Foster) allows Ken and Goblin (now rechristened Thunderhead) to enter a local match. The horse is very close to winning the race when he injures a tendon in his leg, ending his racing career. Soon after the albino strikes again and gravely injures the alpha dog (horse?) of the herd. Ken, his dad, and their two ranch hands go off to kill the albino. During the night, Thunderhead escapes, waking Ken, who follows. The following morning the albino corners Ken when he spots all the kidnapped (horsenapped?) mares. Enter Thunderhead to the rescue and an epic battle to the death ensues... and Ken is forced to make an important decision.

MY THOUGHTS

This film takes the great first film and builds upon it, and delivers. The story remains simple and straighforward, but there's more story and a shorter run time so it moves at a brisk pace.

Most of the cast is back from the first and know their characters well. Roddy McDowell shows development as an actor, but his English accent somehow seems even thicker here (odd for the heartland of the USA.) The girl playing Hildy is still annoying. Ken's parents deliver solid performances again.

It's the nonhuman actors that really shine here. I have no idea how the horse wranglers/trainers were able to get such great performances from the horses. I'm sure there had to be some serious animal abuse. The horse fights seem like real ones and could never be done today. The ASPCA and PETA would be on the filmmakers with shotguns quick. The scene where Thunderhead encounters a porcupine was very humerous and well shot.

This film takes the camera deep into the wilderness, more than the first one ever did. The scenery is breathtaking, made even better in technicolor. Shots of the herd of horses running between canyons, a huge waterfall, and wide open valleys are some of the many visual treats for the eyes. These were shot in Utah and Oregon.

I believe horse racing is one of the top two sports that translate to film the best (the other being boxing.) The racing scenes looked great, but have been done far better in other films like "The Black Stallion."

My only real fault with the film is Flicka. She's there at the beginning of the film and promptly vanishes and is never spoken of again. Since Ken established such a strong bond in the first one, it's odd he would completely blow her off for Thunderhead. It don't recall if this was the same in the book (It's been WAY too long since I read it as a kid) or maybe her scenes were left on the cutting room floor. Either way, it's a head scratcher.

The film is an excellent one for the whole family, but you may be a little leery to show this to the real young due to a horse being put down, after it was attacked. It is shown off screen but the gunshot and reaction from Thunderhead and Ken may be upsetting. The climactic horse battle is violent and could be problematic as well. Otherwise it's terriffic.