Florian

I first saw the movie "Florian" around the very early 1950's. There was even an older book with the same title and story. Have been searching for a way to obtain this Robert Young movie for many years. It was my introduction to the Lippizanner stallions, their offspring, and rigorous training. It inspired me to begin riding Dressage later in life. And ultimately becoming a Trakehner horse breeder. The stories of these two breeds, and what happened to them during the European wars has many parallels. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria has been the home to Lippizan horses for centuries. Dressage riding looks so easy and effortless! Nothing could be further from the truth. It takes subtle cues from the rider, and complete synchronization of horse and rider. Training can take many years to achieve the wonderful "above airs" moves. This movie had a tremendous impact on my life!

I saw this film on TV in the '50's. Have been looking for it since video disks came on the scene (pre-VHS for you young'ens). The movie was my introduction to the Lippizaner breed of horse. And the first time I saw the stallions dance was a "goosebumps" moment for me. It still is. Other than the horse Florian, the story concerns two people, a groom and an aristocrat, separated by class, but united in their love for a horse . . . and eventually for one another. All (horse AND lovers) are separated and set adrift in the storm that is World War One. This is a story of the fall of an empire. A tale of love, of loss, of peril, and of eventual salvation and reconciliation. A baroque "Black Beauty." I would REALLY like a copy of this film.

I watched for it on TV for many years, hoping it would be shown; for a while I thought my mother had made it up :-) Imagine my great pleasure when it aired on TV (over 25 years ago--long before VCRs, if you can imagine). It was just as good as she had said; Robert Young was so handsome, and Florian was far better than Flicka or Trigger.

"Florian" might not have been on the same level as, say, Lassie Come-Home, or Smokey (with Fred McMurray), but it was a good horse movie nevertheless.

I saw this movie in 1940 and I never forgot it. It is a tear-jerker but of the best kind. All of the ingredients of a good plot are there and of course any movie with an animal, especially a horse is a guarantee of good family entertainment. It was shown in the afternoon on a Baltimore channel so I don't imagine very many families got to see it. Perhaps if enough of us write to Fox Movie Channel and Turner Classic Movies, they will show this movie again.I watch only the "classic" movies because I find I do not like the new violent/sex ones of today. There are so many good books that have never been made into movies. Tried and true books are much better than some of the "original" ideas used for the movies of today.

I watched this movie Florian many many years ago.I remember my parents had not long bought our first TV. I sat in front of it on the floor watching Robert young saving the horses in ww1 I first learnt that white horses are born black and my heart was racing when i saw the stallions enter the arena to "dance" I loved it very much it is a movie I would love to have. I have over the years made some enquries about the movie and now that i am semi retired i am becoming more persistent in my search for a copy. Does anybody know of a VHS or is it on line anywhere or was it ever released as a VHS?. Ultimate dream is to go and see the dancing stallions.