The Colt (film)
Encyclopedia
The Colt is a 2005 television movie
made for Hallmark Channel
. The film is set during the American Civil War
, and is based on the short story (Жеребёнок, Zherebyonok) by Nobel Prize
winner Mikhail Sholokhov.
troop struggles to survive when young Union
soldier Jim Rabb (Ryan Merriman
) discovers that his mare has given birth to a colt
. A superior officer orders Jim to shoot the foal
because it may become a burden, but Jim - seeing the colt as a sign of hope and a reminder of the beauty of life - refuses. The colt remains with the men as they battle. When Confederates overtake the camp and steal the colt, Jim must risk his life retrieving it.
South Coast Today praised the film, saying its "symbolism is never so heavy-handed as to obscure an intelligent film filled with fine performances."
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
made for Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
. The film is set during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and is based on the short story (Жеребёнок, Zherebyonok) by Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner Mikhail Sholokhov.
Plot
In 1864, a American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
troop struggles to survive when young Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
soldier Jim Rabb (Ryan Merriman
Ryan Merriman
Ryan Earl Merriman is an American actor. He began his acting career as a child actor during the mid-1990s and has appeared in several feature films and television shows.-Background:...
) discovers that his mare has given birth to a colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
. A superior officer orders Jim to shoot the foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
because it may become a burden, but Jim - seeing the colt as a sign of hope and a reminder of the beauty of life - refuses. The colt remains with the men as they battle. When Confederates overtake the camp and steal the colt, Jim must risk his life retrieving it.
Cast
- Ryan MerrimanRyan MerrimanRyan Earl Merriman is an American actor. He began his acting career as a child actor during the mid-1990s and has appeared in several feature films and television shows.-Background:...
as Jim Rabb - Steve BacicSteve BacicSteve Bacic is a Canadian actor of Croatian origin. He is known for playing the character Telemachus Rhade on the Sci-Fi series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. After being a guest star in season 1-3, he joined the cast early in season four...
as Sgt. Longacre - William MacDonaldWilliam MacdonaldWilliam Macdonald or MacDonald or McDonald may refer to:* William McDonald , Canadian politician from Nova Scotia, Canada...
as Sgt. Woodruff - Darcy Belsher as Convington
- Scott Heindl as Lt. Hutton
Critical reviews
Hal Erickson of All Movie Guide called the film "an uplifting tale of unassailable innocence in the midst of America's bloodiest war."South Coast Today praised the film, saying its "symbolism is never so heavy-handed as to obscure an intelligent film filled with fine performances."
Won
- 2005 FAIF International Film Festival, Judges Choice Award for Best Feature Film
- 2005 LA Femme Film Festival, Best Director
- 2005 WorldFest Houston, Special Jury Award for Feature Made for Television/Cable
Nominated
- 2006 Humanitas Prize, 90 Minute or Longer Category
- 2006 Writers Guild of America, USA, WGA Award (TV) Long Form - Adapted
External links
- The Colt at RHI EntertainmentRHI EntertainmentRHI Entertainment , formerly known as Hallmark Entertainment, is an American producer of television movies and miniseries, founded in 1979 by Robert Halmi Jr. and Robert Halmi Sr. as Robert Halmi Incorporated....