The Story of Seabiscuit

1949
Approved
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

896

YOUR RATING

Shirley Temple, Barry Fitzgerald, and Seabiscuit in The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)

Trailer for this story about a race horse

Play trailer2:17

1 Video

14 Photos

Drama Family Romance

Horse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece Margaret come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Shawn... Read allHorse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece Margaret come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Shawn takes a liking to a yearling named Seabiscuit, and fights to convince the horse's owner t... Read allHorse trainer Shawn O'Hara and his lovely niece Margaret come to America to escape the memory of an accident involving Margaret's brother Danny. Working with thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Shawn takes a liking to a yearling named Seabiscuit, and fights to convince the horse's owner that the tiny horse with big knees will become a top-notch racehorse. Meanwhile, Margaret b... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

896

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Self
(archive footage)

John Alvin

Announcer
(uncredited)

Gertrude Astor

Oscar's Wife
(uncredited)

Claudia Barrett

Nurse
(uncredited)

Brandon Beach

Spectator
(uncredited)

Walden Boyle

Reporter
(uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Racetrack Usher
(uncredited)

Director
- David Butler
Writer
- John Taintor Foote
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Though shot in Technicolor, the film incorporates actual black-and-white footage of Seabiscuit in races, including the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap and the 1938 match race against rival War Admiral, which is still considered by many to be the greatest horse race of all time.

Goofs
In the final scene at the winner's circle, an apparent newsreel cameraman is filming while cranking his camera - backwards. He pauses for a few seconds, starts to crank one way, then the other. Finally, he resumes cranking, this time in the correct direction.

Quotes
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Is, uh, is, uh, you folks, uh...?
Margaret O'Hara: Could you be apt to telling me if there's a certain Mr. Millford, the horse breeder, anywhere about?
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I don't rightly know what you's saying, missy. I'm here to pick up some folks that's going out to Mr. Millford's farm. A couple of foreigners.
Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: What language is this strange person talking, Maggie?
Margaret O'Hara: I'm not sure.
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Don't y'all speak the English language?
Margaret O'Hara: Yes, we do. Now, you listen carefully. This is Mr. Shawn O'Hara. I'm his niece. We've come all the way from Ireland. Mr. Millford's expecting us. Mr. Millford!
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm. Yes'm. You is which I'm looking for. I'm Mr. Millford's boy.
Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: His boy, you say?
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes, sir. Murphy's the name, sir.
Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Murphy - Did he say Murphy?
Margaret O'Hara: I think he did, Uncle Shawn. Did you say Murphy?
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes, missy. Murphy. They calls me Walkin' Murphy.
Margaret O'Hara: Walkin' Murphy?
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm. Most of us Murphys down here just sit. I walk.
Margaret O'Hara: Well, that's fine.
Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Murphy! Now what part of Ireland are you from?
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I don't rightly know, sir. Us Murphys down here only got a casual acquaintance with the Irish.
Margaret O'Hara: Come on, Murphy. Take us to Mr. Millford.
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I almost forgot what Mr. Millford said.
[clears his throat]
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Welcome to Kentucky, the Bluegrass state.
Margaret O'Hara: Thanks, Murphy. Start walking.
Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm.
Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Paris, Murphy, Bluegrass...
Margaret O'Hara: It's a strange, new world, Uncle Shawn.

Connections
Edited from National Velvet (1944)

Soundtracks
My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night
(uncredited)
Music by Stephen Foster
Played during the opening scene

User reviews21

Review

Featured review

6/10

A day at the races

"The Story of Seabiscuit", which was shown recently on TCM, is a film that is pleasant to sit through, but inferior to the much better "Seabiscuit" that came out on 2003, based on the magnificent book by Laura Hillenbrand and directed by Gary Ross. This 1949 movie was perhaps a vehicle for an adult Shirley Temple. As directed by David Butler, the film has some good moments.

The best thing in the movie is the irresistible Barry Fitzgerald. As Shawn O'Hara, he comes to America to work with horses at the Milford Farms. He arrives with his niece, Margaret. Shawn knows a lot about horses and he spots Seabiscuit right away. His love for the horse puts him at odds with George, the head trainer. Since Seabiscuit doesn't show anything at the beginning and Shawn's health seems to deteriorate, Shawn and Margaret decide to go on to California to work with the Howards, a couple that appreciate Shawn's advice.

Among the recommendations Shawn tells the Howards, is to buy Seabiscuit from Mr. Milford for the sum of six thousand dollars. After Shawn resumes training the horse, and with the help of Ted Knowles, the jockey, Seabiscuit begins to respond and win. Seabiscuit was a legend in the sport.

The story is conventional, but totally watchable by the presence of Barry Fitzgerald. He steals every scene in which he appears. Shirley Temple is not believable with her Irish accent, but she is a sweet figure in the story. Lon McCallister, playing Ted, is fine. Rosemarie DeCamp is an elegant figure who doesn't get much to do.

The film doesn't attempt to be anything but a semi documentary about Seabiscuit and its trainer and the relationship between them. Horse race fans will have a good time with the film thanks to Mr. Fitzgerald's contribution.