Sean Bean Week: Black Beauty

Howdy folks and welcome back to Day 2 of Sean Bean Week.  Oddly enough I do not have any graphic Bean death scenes to share with you lot but... we can manage to cover the fellow yet again.  This time around an adaptation of Anna Sewell's novel was released in 1994, giving a fresh perspective on this classic English novel allowing viewers to see through the main character's eyes as well as a narrative for him as well.  This is Black Beauty.

I wonder why Jake thought this was a huge part for me.

Black Beauty: Oh! If people knew what a comfort to horses a light spoil is, and how it keeps a good mouth and a good temper...




This version of the movie feels almost like a autobiography of the very same named horse.  Writer/producer/director Caroline Thompson (Edward Scissorhands, The Addams Family, The Secret Garden, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Black Beauty, Buddy and Snow White: The Fairest of Them All)  and introduced a voice over for Black Beauty via Alan Cumming (High Road, Second Best, The High Life, GoldenEye, Spy Kids, X-Men 2 and Shoebox Zoo) bringing a perspective for the audience from this majestic creature.   Black Beauty resides on the lands of Birtwick Park belonging to Squire Gordon (Peter Davison of Sink or Swim, Doctor Who, A Very Peculiar Practice, Mystery!: Campion,  All Creatures Great and Small, The Mrs Bradley Mysteries and Law & Order: UK).  As Black Beauty attempts to get closer to Lady Gordon's mare Ginger, who doesn't give him the time of day he realizes he must be patient with her and chooses to be sweet on Merrylegs, the pony that entertains the good squire's daughters, Jessica and Molly.  

Dammit, lost a contact!

Alas Mistress Gordon (Rosalind Ayres of Armchair Thriller, Penmarric, The Bounder, Father's Day, Emily's Ghost, A Face to Die For, Titanic and Gods and Monsters) has slowly became ill and requires a warmer climate to improve her health.  Beauty and Ginger are sent to a new home in Earlshall Park, home of Lord (Peter Cook of Bedazzled, The Bed Sitting Room, Not Only... But Also, Find the Lady, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Two of Us and The Black Adder) and Lady Wexmire (Eleanor Bron of Yes Minister, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Play for Today, Doctor Who, The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank, Deadly Advice and A Little Princess) forces both Beauty and Ginger to pull Lady Wexmire's carriage with reins that forces her heads up and Ginger breaks away from the carriage in anger.    Separated from Ginger for the first time Beauty is lead to yet another owner as a taxi horse.  Will he meet with Ginger again or meet any of his human friends once more?

Now you are probably wondering where in the seven hells is Sean Bean.  Well his character Farmer Grey had less of a part than I remembered. He discovered the young colt that one day would be Black Beauty and... yeah it was over fairly quick.   I feel a bit silly on this but it does happen.

Here is a bit of trivia with this movie.  This was Peter Cooks last movie and not too bad to end on a high note there.    This has been Peter Davison's first and only theatrical film release and filmed all his scenes in no less than ten days.

Guys, I got us a cologne commercial! We're rich!