The Black Stallion Returns
Encyclopedia
The Black Stallion Returns is a 1983 film adaptation of the book of the same name by Walter Farley
, and is a sequel to The Black Stallion
. It is directed by Robert Dalva
and produced by Francis Ford Coppola
. The movie stars Kelly Reno
, Vincent Spano
and Teri Garr
. The portrayal of The Black was shared between Cass Ole
, the horse from The Black Stallion, and El Mokhtar
.
), the human protagonist of the story) live. A suspicious barn fire is followed by the stallion being taken. From the point of view of Ishak (Ferdy Mayne
), the sheik who took him, this is property retrieval; the horse was originally his. Although informed the horse is being returned to his owners, Alec did not want to lose his best friend and the one who saved his life, so Alec escapes from the ropes that Ishak's men put on him. Remembering what he had said about where the Black was being taken, Alec goes after the sheik and the horse, stowing away in a plane.
Once in Morocco, after being found on the plane, Alec strolls around the stable and ends up making some friends from the stable. They take him to a man who is very interested in the stallion and the sheik, and allows Alec to go with him and his companion. But a flat tire makes them abandon Alec in the desert. He is found by another truck and hops on. On the truck, he meets Raj (Vincent Spano
) with whom he learns that his stallion will probably appear in "The Great Race." While attempting to retrieve the stallion, Alec is apprehended by Ishak's men. Alec pleads his case to Ishak, who is sympathetic but does not intend to give up the horse. Ishak plans to race the stallion in the "Great Race" with his granddaughter Tabari (Jodi Thelen
) as jockey. Alec insists the race will only be won if he, not Tabari, rides the horse. Denied the position, he tries to coach Tabari in riding the stallion, but the stallion throws her off. Just as she is about to get on his back again, a rogue tribe shows up and captures Alec and the Black. The Black and Alec later escape into the night with the rogue tribe shooting their guns at their retreating form. Ishak and his people find them later and as a reward for the safe return of their stallion, Alec is allowed to ride The Black in the race.
Alec wins the race, then pleads with Ishak to allow his friend Raj to keep the horse that Raj rode in the race, despite the conditions that all of the losing riders forfeit their horses to the winning rider's sheik. Ishak grants the reprieve, which allows Alec to repay Raj for his kindness to him, much to Raj's joy.
Although Ishak has given Alec the horse, Alec decides to leave the horse in Morocco, where he feels the animal is more at home.
Walter Farley
Walter Farley was an American author, primarily of horse stories for children. Educated at Columbia, where he received a B.A. in 1941, his first and most famous work was The Black Stallion...
, and is a sequel to The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion (film)
The Black Stallion is a 1979 American film based on the 1941 classic children's novel The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. It tells the story of Alec Ramsey, who is shipwrecked on a desert island, together with a wild Arabian stallion whom he befriends...
. It is directed by Robert Dalva
Robert Dalva
Robert Dalva is a noted American film editor. Filmography as editor includes The Black Stallion, Raising Cain, Jumanji, Jurassic Park III and Hidalgo...
and produced by Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
. The movie stars Kelly Reno
Kelly Reno
Kelly Reno, born to cattle ranchers in Pueblo, Colorado is a former juvenile actor who was cast in the role of Alec Ramsey, the young boy who is marooned on a deserted island along with a horse, in The Black Stallion at age 13.Reno also appeared in the 1983 film adaptation of The Black Stallion...
, Vincent Spano
Vincent Spano
Vincent M. Spano is an American stage, film and television actor, and film director and producer. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Il cugino americano.-Backround:...
and Teri Garr
Teri Garr
-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
. The portrayal of The Black was shared between Cass Ole
Cass Ole
Cass Ole was a Texas bred Arabian stallion. Originally bred to be a show horse, he was National Champion in Arabian Western Pleasure in 1975, National Reserve Champion Arabian Ladies Side Saddle in 1976, and U.S. Top Ten Arabian English Pleasure in both 1975 and 1976...
, the horse from The Black Stallion, and El Mokhtar
El Mokhtar
El Mokhtar was an Arabian horse, and one of three black Arabian stallions used to portray "The Black" in the second Black Stallion film, The Black Stallion Returns....
.
Plot
The story begins with several odd occurrences at the farm where the stallion (and Alec (Kelly RenoKelly Reno
Kelly Reno, born to cattle ranchers in Pueblo, Colorado is a former juvenile actor who was cast in the role of Alec Ramsey, the young boy who is marooned on a deserted island along with a horse, in The Black Stallion at age 13.Reno also appeared in the 1983 film adaptation of The Black Stallion...
), the human protagonist of the story) live. A suspicious barn fire is followed by the stallion being taken. From the point of view of Ishak (Ferdy Mayne
Ferdy Mayne
-Early life:He was born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel, in Mainz, Germany. His German father was the Judge of Mayence, and his half-English mother gave singing lessons. Because his family was Jewish, he was sent to England to protect him from the Nazis, and he stayed with his aunt, the photographer...
), the sheik who took him, this is property retrieval; the horse was originally his. Although informed the horse is being returned to his owners, Alec did not want to lose his best friend and the one who saved his life, so Alec escapes from the ropes that Ishak's men put on him. Remembering what he had said about where the Black was being taken, Alec goes after the sheik and the horse, stowing away in a plane.
Once in Morocco, after being found on the plane, Alec strolls around the stable and ends up making some friends from the stable. They take him to a man who is very interested in the stallion and the sheik, and allows Alec to go with him and his companion. But a flat tire makes them abandon Alec in the desert. He is found by another truck and hops on. On the truck, he meets Raj (Vincent Spano
Vincent Spano
Vincent M. Spano is an American stage, film and television actor, and film director and producer. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Il cugino americano.-Backround:...
) with whom he learns that his stallion will probably appear in "The Great Race." While attempting to retrieve the stallion, Alec is apprehended by Ishak's men. Alec pleads his case to Ishak, who is sympathetic but does not intend to give up the horse. Ishak plans to race the stallion in the "Great Race" with his granddaughter Tabari (Jodi Thelen
Jodi Thelen
Jodi Thelen is an American actress.Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Thelen made her screen debut as Georgia Miles, "a willfully free-spirited girl, naive and narcissistic" in Four Friends in 1981....
) as jockey. Alec insists the race will only be won if he, not Tabari, rides the horse. Denied the position, he tries to coach Tabari in riding the stallion, but the stallion throws her off. Just as she is about to get on his back again, a rogue tribe shows up and captures Alec and the Black. The Black and Alec later escape into the night with the rogue tribe shooting their guns at their retreating form. Ishak and his people find them later and as a reward for the safe return of their stallion, Alec is allowed to ride The Black in the race.
Alec wins the race, then pleads with Ishak to allow his friend Raj to keep the horse that Raj rode in the race, despite the conditions that all of the losing riders forfeit their horses to the winning rider's sheik. Ishak grants the reprieve, which allows Alec to repay Raj for his kindness to him, much to Raj's joy.
Although Ishak has given Alec the horse, Alec decides to leave the horse in Morocco, where he feels the animal is more at home.
Cast
- Kelly RenoKelly RenoKelly Reno, born to cattle ranchers in Pueblo, Colorado is a former juvenile actor who was cast in the role of Alec Ramsey, the young boy who is marooned on a deserted island along with a horse, in The Black Stallion at age 13.Reno also appeared in the 1983 film adaptation of The Black Stallion...
as Alec Ramsay - Vincent SpanoVincent SpanoVincent M. Spano is an American stage, film and television actor, and film director and producer. He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Il cugino americano.-Backround:...
as Raj - Allen GarfieldAllen GarfieldAllen Garfield, born and sometimes credited as Allen Goorwitz , is an American film and television actor.-Biography:...
as Kurr - Woody StrodeWoody StrodeWoodrow Wilson Woolwine "Woody" Strode was a decathlete and football star who went on to become a pioneering black American film actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor for his role in Spartacus in 1960...
as Meslar - Ferdy MayneFerdy Mayne-Early life:He was born Ferdinand Philip Mayer-Horckel, in Mainz, Germany. His German father was the Judge of Mayence, and his half-English mother gave singing lessons. Because his family was Jewish, he was sent to England to protect him from the Nazis, and he stayed with his aunt, the photographer...
as Abu Ben Ishak - Jodi ThelenJodi ThelenJodi Thelen is an American actress.Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Thelen made her screen debut as Georgia Miles, "a willfully free-spirited girl, naive and narcissistic" in Four Friends in 1981....
as Tabari - Teri GarrTeri Garr-Early life:Garr was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1947. Her father, Eddie Garr , was a vaudeville performer, comedian and actor whose career peaked when he briefly took over the lead role in the Broadway drama Tobacco Road...
as Alec's Mother - Hoyt AxtonHoyt AxtonHoyt Wayne Axton was an American country music singer-songwriter, and a film and television actor. He became prominent in the early 1960s, establishing himself on the West Coast as a folk singer with an earthy style and powerful voice. As he matured, some of his songwriting efforts became well...
as Narrator (voice) - Cass OleCass OleCass Ole was a Texas bred Arabian stallion. Originally bred to be a show horse, he was National Champion in Arabian Western Pleasure in 1975, National Reserve Champion Arabian Ladies Side Saddle in 1976, and U.S. Top Ten Arabian English Pleasure in both 1975 and 1976...
/ El MokhtarEl MokhtarEl Mokhtar was an Arabian horse, and one of three black Arabian stallions used to portray "The Black" in the second Black Stallion film, The Black Stallion Returns....
as The Black