Hidalgo (film)
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| Hidalgo | |
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 Hidalgo film poster |
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| Directed by | Joe Johnston |
| Produced by | Casey Silver |
| Written by | John Fusco |
| Starring | Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
| Release date(s) | 17 February 2004 |
| Running time | 136 minutes |
| Language | English, Arabic (with subtitles) |
| Budget | ~ US$78,000,000 |
| IMDb profile | |
Hidalgo is a 2004 film based on the life and tales of former horse rider Frank Hopkins and his endurance horse Hidalgo, a mustang. The movie was written by John Fusco and directed by Joe Johnston. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Zuleikha Robinson and Omar Sharif.
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[edit] Story
Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire--a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian desert--was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy sheikh invited an American, Frank T. Hopkins, and his horse to enter the race for the first time. During the course of his career, Hopkins was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the U.S. cavalry--and had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheikh puts his claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world's greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders, some of whom are determined to prevent a foreigner - and especially an "impure" horse - from finishing the race. For Frank, the Ocean of Fire becomes not only a matter of pride and honor, but a race for his very survival as he and his horse attempt the impossible. Throughout the story, there are many who attempt to kill Hopkins and Hidalgo; some of these are working for the Sheikh's treacherous nephew, who wishes against his uncle's decree to marry his cousin. This cousin, a horse-rider in her own right, is rescued from raids at some points by Frank and Hidalgo, whom she grows to trust. Eventually, Hopkins wins the race and travels home to America, later to buy many mustangs who had been sentenced to death by the Government. These he releases into the wild, allowing Hidalgo to go with them. A recurring theme in the film is the idea, presented as a fact, that Hopkins is half White American and half Native American. The tribespeople refer to him as "Blue Child" or "Far Rider". As a half-breed, he feels sympathy and pity for his mother's tribe, who are being driven to extinction by the settlers. The sheikh's daughter Jazirah, who has become his friend, compares her desire not to wear the veil with Hopkins' heritage; that he mustn't "go through life hiding what God made you... like me." In the end, he casts in his lot with the tribe and rides bareback for the final length of the race.
[edit] Reactions
The events on which the movie were based are disputed by some as nothing more than tall tales. Others view them to be slightly exaggerated true stories [1]. In either case, Roger Ebert offers a positive review of the film, saying it's the kind of fun, rip-snorting adventure film Hollywood rarely makes anymore, adding, "please ignore any tiresome scolds who complain that the movie is not really based on fact. Duh."[2]
[edit] Trivia
In the film, Hopkins speaks Lakota and is portrayed as a member of that tribe.
The horses used in the film were not purebred Arabian horses. Because of the configuration of its back, the Arab hoists its tail to a near-upright position when running. None of the horses in Hidalgo do this to the full extent that a pure Arabian would.
Viggo Mortensen later bought RH Tecontender, one of the American Paints that played Hidalgo.
[edit] Box office
US Gross Domestic Takings: US$ 67,303,450
- + Other International Takings: $40,800,000
= Gross Worldwide Takings: $108,103,450
[edit] External links
- Hidalgo at the Internet Movie Database
- Hidalgo at Rotten Tomatoes
- Hidalgo at Metacritic
- Hidalgo at Box Office Mojo
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