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Poster for National Velvet

National Velvet

Seen it?

1945 | 123 min | Drama, Family

Friday Night Flickearly rating

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won 2 Oscars. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for families. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Feel-good.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 3 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1945: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside home of the Brown family. The youngest daughter, Velvet, has a passion for horses and when she wins the spirited steed Pie in a town lottery, Mi is encouraged to train the horse.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 83 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.2 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 2 Oscars: Best Supporting Actress, Best Film Editing. Also nominated for 3 more Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $6 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 98K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Clarence Brown

  • Mickey RooneyMichael 'Mi' Taylor
  • Donald CrispMr. Herbert Brown
  • Elizabeth TaylorVelvet Brown
  • Anne RevereMrs. Araminty Brown
  • Angela LansburyEdwina Brown
  • Jackie 'Butch' JenkinsDonald Brown
  • Juanita QuigleyMalvolia 'Mally' Brown
  • Reginald OwenFarmer Ede
  • Norma VardenMiss Sims
  • Terry KilburnTheodore 'Ted'