Common Sense Note
Parents should know that kids will see little that's threatening and nothing inappropriate. Although Ken's authoritarian father wants to shoot Flicka when the horse falls ill, he changes his mind.
Families who watch this movie might discuss the genre of horse stories. Do these movies have a formula? For example, do many of them feature a horse who nobody else believes in but his young owner? Does the horse usually prove his worth? Is this type of film meant to make you feel a certain way? How did this movie make you feel?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Common Sense Media
MY FRIEND FLICKA may seem too dated for children who aren't crazy about horses and willing to sit through the slow first half. Ken's touching battle to win his father's approval and save the life of his colt eventually gains momentum.
On their Wyoming ranch, daydreamer Ken (Roddy McDowall) tends to be forgetful of his chores and battles with his autocratic father. But at the insistence of his mother, Ken's father lets him choose a colt to raise --Flicka. Ken works hard to train Flicka, but after great progress, the horse falls ill from an infected leg. Ken's father insists Flicka must be shot to avoid further suffering. Ken refuses to shoot her, instead attempting to nurse her back to health. When Ken falls ill himself, his father cannot bring himself to shoot Flicka. As Flicka recovers, so does Ken.
Like the books they're based on, horse movies have always been a staple of children's entertainment. The Black Stallion and National Velvet join My Friend Flicka among the most famous of these.
Despite its fame, this film won't entertain every kid. The first half is very slow, with numerous shots of fields, horses, fences, etc. Though some children may find the clothes and speech of the 40s fascinating, others won't be able to sit still long enough to appreciate them.
Parents may want to fast forward to the point when Ken's father allows him to choose a colt. The action speeds up when Ken gets Flicka, and the divergent beliefs of his mother and father intensify. Ken's father is an exacting man who believes in breaking animals and punishing children. Conversely, Ken's mother believes that animals, like people, respond to love. In the end, love is what saves Ken, his father, and even Flicka.
Child star Roddy McDowall (who would go on to adult stardom, most notably in Planet of the Apes) was probably forgiven his British accent in 1943, but he doesn't sound as if he belongs on a Wyoming ranch. Even so, his portrayal of a boy who learns the importance of love and responsibility rings true. The movie is faithful to Mary O'Hara's book of the same name, at times picking up whole pages of dialogue. Older kids who like the movie may be inspired to read the book.
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