SEABISCUIT
US, 2003, 140 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Toby Maguire, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Ed Lauter.
Directed by F. Gary Gray.
The American racing legend of the 1930s is given the epic treatment in this almost two and a half hours film, written
and directed by Gary Ross (Pleasantville) and based on articles and a longtime bestseller by Laura Hillenbrand. It does not matter if you have never heard of Seabiscuit (although Shirley Temple starred in the 1940s Story of Seabiscuit) nor whether you are particularly interested in racing. There is enough plot, enough characters, enough
evocation of history to keep you interested.
The film takes its time before Seabiscuit comes on. Rather, the background stories of three people are well told so that when they meet and take on training and running the horse, we know a lot about them and are interested to see what happens. The first is the entrepreneur Charles Howard who moved from making and selling bikes to making and selling cars but who suffered financial loss at the Wall Street crash and personal tragedy with his son. Circumstances involve him in the racing world and he buys Seabiscuit. The second is Tom Smith, a Montana cowboy, whose way of life passes and loses work in the Depression. He is a talented horse whisperer who recognises the potential of Seabiscuit and becomes his trainer. The third is John Pollard, nicknamed Red because of his red hair. His family fall on hard times during the Depression and leave him at a stable urging him to use his gift for riding horses. He never sees them again. He becomes Seabiscuit's jockey.
With a voiceover explanation of American history in the first half of the 20th century and many visuals, including photos of the period, the film has a social context for the celebrity that Seabiscuit became. He coincided with the hopes of the underdogs in the 30s, with the era of radio and millions listening to races, to the growing cult of celebrity. The races are excitingly photographed so that audiences share in the extraordinary response to Seabiscuit in 1937 to 1940.
With Jeff Bridges as Charles Howard, Chris Cooper as Tom Smith and Tobey Maguire as Red Pollard, the film has quite a superior cast which gives it great human strength (as well as the horses). An added bonus is a very funny performance by William H. Macy as a twenty to the dozen radio commentator, complete with sound effects paraphernalia.
Released in a period where the United States has ambiguous status in the world, after September 11th 2001 and the Iraq War, the film also serves as a boost to the American spirit of the ordinary people. It received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, but did not receive any since it was the year of The Lord of the Rings.
1. Audience knowledge of Sea Biscuit? The tradition of horse-racing movies? The perception of American history, horse-racing, Sea Biscuit from 2003?
2. The scope of the film, the historical background, the historian giving the voice-over, US 1910 and the factories, World War I and the opening up of the west, opportunities, the Depression, the Wall Street collapse, the consequences, the 1930s and the world of celebrity? Photographs, clips inserted throughout the film?
3. The structure of the film: time, the introduction to the three characters, their origins, bringing them together, Sea Biscuit and the consequences?
4. The locations for each of the three characters, the east coast, the north-west, the Depression period, the trains, the people wandering, the background of horse-racing, the racecourses, the editing used for making the races vibrant and vital, the musical score, the songs and the atmosphere and mood?
5. Charles Williams and his working in the factory in 1910, bored with the work on the bicycles, taking the opportunity to leave and go to San Francisco, seen outside his shop, no customers, his courtesy, the man bringing the car, his interest, taking it apart, understanding it, moving into sales? His marriage and the birth of his son? His increasing wealth, home? His always quoting the future? The 1930s, his son and urging him to go fishing, the accident, his grief, his wife's grief and her sweeping the porch, the alienation from Charles, the divorce? The support of his friends? The racing background, the manager of the Santa Anita course? His seeing the horses, his seeing Tom Smith, his seeing Red? His camping out, discussing things with Tom Smith, not throwing away a life? His seeing Sea Biscuit, buying the horse? Moving in society, his wife, their friendship, courtship, wedding, place in society? The bonds between his trainer and his jockey? The discussions with the trainer, betting, having success? The media rivalry over the east coast horse? Charles as a showman, at the press conferences, the challenge? The refusal from the east, the final acceptance? The training at night, the bell? Winning? Sea Biscuit's collapse? Red's accident? The alternate jockey riding Sea Biscuit to victory? The horse retraining, Red and his retraining? Victory? The media, the papers, the newsreels, the radio commentaries? Sea Biscuit as an American celebrity of the early 20th century, a symbol of hope during the Depression?
6. Red, the young boy and his family, the mealtimes, the books, the recitation of poetry? The coming of the Depression and the family losing their money, Red and his riding, his father praising his gift, leaving him at the camp, promising to phone but never doing it? Red and his disappointment with his family and the sense of being abandoned? His boxing to earn money, his being tall for a jockey, his losing, feeling that he was a loser, eking out a living? His offering to walk the horses, staying in touch with horses and racing? With Sea Biscuit, his ability to bond with horses, talking, being seen by Tom Smith? His training, his edge? His jockey friends? Being taken into Charles' family, outings, church? His rivals - and the background of the dirty riding in the early part of the century, his losing the sight in one eye? His losing and Tom Smith angry with him? Charles not throwing away a life? The bonding, the training, the success? The previous owner asking him to walk the horse, the accident, hospital? His handing over the riding of Sea Biscuit to the other jockey? His leg, lame, recovery? His anger with his father, taking the books to throw them away but not doing so? His recovery, his final ride and endurance?
7. Tom Smith, the cowboys of Montana, life on the open range, the coming of barbed wire? The Depression, Tom riding the trains, his ability with horses, at the camp, whispering to Sea Biscuit, Charles' fascination? His being employed, knowing the horse, intuitions about him, building up his success, relationship with Red, angry with him in concealing his lack of sight in one eye, the rivalry from the east, his accepting it, his changing status as he was more successful? The success with Sea Biscuit, the bond with Red, allowing him to retrain, the final success?
8. The other jockeys, the hard riding before the rules were laid down, his jockey friend, choosing him to ride Sea Biscuit to success, the friend and his character, the good friendship, giving up the riding when Red wanted to finally ride?
9. Charles' first wife, the happy marriage, the son, the accident, the bitterness and the divorce? His second wife, her support for Charles, companionship, shared interest, knowledge of horses, having faith in Tom and Red?
10. William H. Macy as the radio commentator - the star turn, the comedy, his language, hype, the special effects, his assistant? The discussions with Charles, getting the news scoop, getting on radio first?
11. The manager of Santa Anita, the racing fraternity, the different courses, management, support?
12. The clash with the east, Admiral, his owner, his disdain, Sea Biscuit being small? The media playing it up, papers and newsreels, the radio? The build-up to the race, the possibility of losing, the jockey riding Sea Biscuit and knowing when to move, getting the eyeline, moving up and making a challenge?
13. The focus on Sea Biscuit, small, becoming a hero, the bonds between the three men, the public, the radio hero? A celebrity of the 30s? Reflecting the American spirit, the American spirit being crushed by the Depression, rebounding, achievement, hope?
