IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
The true story of a New Zealand racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stable-boy.The true story of a New Zealand racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stable-boy.The true story of a New Zealand racehorse that became a champion, with the help of a local stable-boy.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 5 nominations total
Gia Carides
- Emma
- (as Georgia Carr)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Interesting true story, the story of Australia's greatest racehorse. Gives and insight into the history of the horse and its rise to fame. Also shows the impact on the humans involved - the owner, trainers, racing authorities and, quite importantly, the general Australian population. Some very heart-warming moments.
Maybe a bit too join-the-dots as far as plot goes, but this does not detract too much from the entertainment.
Great performance by Martin Vaughan as Phar Lap's curmudgeony trainer, Harry Telford. Good work too from Tom Burlinson, in only his second cinema movie.
Maybe a bit too join-the-dots as far as plot goes, but this does not detract too much from the entertainment.
Great performance by Martin Vaughan as Phar Lap's curmudgeony trainer, Harry Telford. Good work too from Tom Burlinson, in only his second cinema movie.
I saw this movie, before I ever heard of this racehorse. The story was beautifully done, with only a hint of overdramatization. The story of the horse and it's career alone provided enough fodder for a great story. As a legend in Australia, Phar Lap transferred to film was done expertly and accurately. I especially enjoyed the performance of Tommy Woodcock's character, as well as The Ron Liebman performance.
For ANYone out there who is: A) an avid horse racing fan B) loves remarkable stories
or C) doesn't need an "all-star" cast to recognize a great film/story.
Phar Lap is great. Find out what happens to a sport when a freak of nature comes on the scene and creates a world-wide panic. From simple fans, horse & animal lovers, politicians and even the mafia. A story that will touch and amaze you in ways you never dreamed possible. See the lengths man would go to get "even" the playing field. Then watch as this thoroughbred smashes the measures taken. If you thought "Old Yeller" was great (and it was), this movie should knock your socks off. It's an amazing true story that MUST be seen to be believed. Forget "Black Stallion" and the rest. Phar Lap is FANtastic!!
or C) doesn't need an "all-star" cast to recognize a great film/story.
Phar Lap is great. Find out what happens to a sport when a freak of nature comes on the scene and creates a world-wide panic. From simple fans, horse & animal lovers, politicians and even the mafia. A story that will touch and amaze you in ways you never dreamed possible. See the lengths man would go to get "even" the playing field. Then watch as this thoroughbred smashes the measures taken. If you thought "Old Yeller" was great (and it was), this movie should knock your socks off. It's an amazing true story that MUST be seen to be believed. Forget "Black Stallion" and the rest. Phar Lap is FANtastic!!
I have watched Phar Lap several times and it brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it! It's a wonderful movie. I'm glad they finally put it on DVD!! I believe that Phar Lap was the worlds greatest race horse. There has never been another like him. It's a shame that he didn't get the chance to sire any babies. They would have been winners like him. I also think Tommy Woodcock was a great trainer! The actors, although unknown to most Americans, were very believable. You couldn't help but to fall in love with the wonderful little horse and I found myself rooting for him every time he raced. The movie will keep you enthralled and sitting on the edge of your seat.
I saw the movie PharLap when it was originally released and several times since .I have also read a number of books on his story. It is a very entertaining and moving film..but it rather annoys me that the makers of the picture imply heavily that if it was not for Tommy Woodcock PharLap would not have been the champion that he turned out to be. This is a slight on the real trainer,Harry Telford and to a lesser extent on PharLap himself. The truth is that PharLap would have achieved greatness with any competent trainer and would have done so with or without Tommy Woodcock. PharLap is a good movie.It is a pity that the makers sacrifice the facts for the sake of the story itself and to the detriment of the character of Telford.
Did you know
- TriviaBilly Eliot, Phar Lap's jockey at Agua Caliente had been devastated by Phar Lap's mysterious death, gave his saddle to George Woolf as a gesture of friendship. Woolf went on to become one of America's greatest riders, using the saddle on his favourite mount, Pur sang: la légende de Seabiscuit (2003), who, like Phar Lap, captivated a nation in the midst of the depression. The saddle was Woolf's lucky charm. From that date on until the time of his death he used it. Coincidentally, the only time he did not use it, from the time when Elliot gifted it to Woolf, was in his last race which he, unfortunately, was killed in.
- GoofsEarly in the film, in early 1928, Phar Lap's trainer Harry Telford (Martin Vaughan) insists that the horse's name must contain seven letters, because the names of the last four Melbourne Cup winners had contained seven letters. In fact, only one of the previous four Melbourne Cup winners in the period in question, 1924-27, had seven letters in its name - Windbag, in 1925. The other winners in that period were Backwood (1924), Spearfelt (1926) and Trivalve (1927). Nor did the subsequent 1928 winner, Statesman, nor the 1929 winner, Nightmarch (to whom Phar Lap ran third), have seven letters in their names.
- Quotes
Harry Telford: [Last Lines]
Harry Telford: He wasn't just a horse. He was the best.
- Alternate versionsThe original release opens with Phar Lap's death, with the rest of the film told in flashback. For its American release where the story of Phar Lap is less known, the opening was removed, making Phar Lap's unexpected death more dramatic.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 20 to 1: Greatest Sports Movies of All Time (2010)
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- A Horse Called Phar Lap
- Filming locations
- St James Street, Geelong West, Victoria, Australia(scenes where someone tries to shoot Phar Lap in the street on his way back from track work)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,878,404
- Gross worldwide
- $2,878,404
- Runtime
- 1h 47m(107 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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