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In the 50's, choices for kids' movies weren't quite what they are today. Gypsy Colt was a real favorite of exhibitors at the time -- entirely clean content and a short running time. It's corny by modern standards but still very charming in its own way. Interesting to see some of the same MGM props that turned up in some of their other films, War of the Worlds is one. If you love horses and a warm, fuzzy, sentimental feeling, Gypsy Colt is a winner. Although, Lee Van Cleef sure plays a real mean guy here.

Gypsy is a horse and he is utterly devoted to his young owner Meg MacWade (Donna Corcoran). The family is forced to sell Gypsy for seeds to plant next year. Gypsy keeps escaping from angry horse trainer Hank (Lee Van Cleef). When he is sent faraway to race, he again makes a run for it.

See dog. See dog run. Replace dog with horse. See horse run. If you're willing to make the switch, this could appeal to the animal lover in you. There is one great looking chase in the desert with four motorcycles. This actually packs a good emotional final punch. It's good family fare and it's got Lee Van Cleef as the big bad.

good, clean family film. the horse (and whoever its trainers were) is the star of this show. exceptionally beautiful animal and great scenes with smart tricks make this a worthwhile view for any horse lover. - also recommended is bing crosby's "riding high" for an equally great horse performance. (bing's great too)

For child star Donna Corcoran, it must have been nice and light and fluffy making this one, after doing "Don't Bother to Knock" with MM. That was SO dark and weird. In this one, family finances are making it impossible to keep her horse, so they will need to sell the horse to someone with a short-tempered trainer . Usually it's the child stars that are so precocious, but in this case, it's the (trained) horse that is the precocious one. Co-stars Ward Bond as "Dad". He was known for so many westerns over the years. This one is more for the kids. Everyone does a fine job, but it's pretty serious drama. Only 162 votes on imdb so far, so TCM must not show it very often. meh. It's ok. Directed by Andrew Marton, who had come from come over from Europe several times.

It seems almost required to mention that Gypsy Colt is not even a disguised remake of Lassie Come Home so I won't break tradition. Being that this is America with a lot more wide open spaces the horse Gypsy has a bigger journey to travel to get back to his little mistress young Donna Corcoran.

Nothing original about this family picture. Donna has a thoroughbred colt and it's the most valuable asset on her dad's farm. Her parents are Ward Bond and Frances Dee. Economic necessity forces them to sell Gypsy to horse racing owner Larry Keating. But you can't separate a child and her horse any more than with a dog. You can take it from there you've seen it all before.

Perennial western heavy Lee Van Cleef is the bad guy once again, a cruel trainer who does get his and the audience cheers accordingly.

Gypsy Colt is a nice family film, one of the last MGM B film products, probably made as an afterthought at Leo the Lion's studio.