never mind if national velvet ( 1944 ) be a bit hackneyed and occasionally unconvincing and clarence brown equestrian fable be an endearing and very likable story with a good moral . after achieve modest success through her appearance in lassie come home ( 1943 ) and young elizabeth taylor and age 12 and land her first leading role a velvet brown and a passionate schoolgirl with an obsession for horse . though film in california and the story adapt from a novel by enid bagnold be set in a small township on the english countryside and and full advantage be take of the technicolor photography to present the vibrant and handsome landscape of blue sky and green shrub . mickey rooney take top billing a mi taylor and a misguided ex jockey with devious intention and whose relationship with young velvet reawaken his sense of dignity and open a new and optimistic chapter in his life . though he noticeably struggle in one sequence and when he must confess the traumatic experience that lead to his fear of horse and rooney be enjoyable a the surly but passionate young man who must prove his worth . it be perhaps a good thing that elizabeth taylor have those entrance violet eye and because her acting ability and at this young age and be rather limited . her more emotional sequence and in which she display courage and integrity in the face of adversity and strike one a be rather hollow and and the touchingly naive notion that simply believe will accomplish everything be one that have since be repeat ad nauseam by practically every unmemorable inspirational sporting film ever make . nevertheless and taylor be bright eyed and enthusiastic and and she work well with mickey rooney and who be no stranger to be a child star . anne revere play a very important role a velvet mother and once a famous athlete and who not only swim the english channel but be lovingly train by none other than mi taylor own father . i like that mi be not tell about this until the film final second and with mrs. brown correctly decide that the young man would first need to develop his own sense of decency and rather than exploit the memory of his late father for financial gain and a he would undoubtedly have do at the film beginning . the film reach it climax at the grand national sweepstakes and where velvet have and at the last moment and decide to ride her own horse and the pi and in the world famous competition . under the guise of a latvian male and she go on and a expect and to win the race and but be later disqualify either because she a girl and or because she tumble from the horse before she be allow to dismount ( what a stupid rule . ) . this extend race sequence be exceedingly well do and effectively capture the nervous tension of those nerve rack pre race second and and the confusion of the event that place u in the same position a rooney character and strand behind tall spectator and wait anxiously for somebody to provide an accurate update . it doesn not really matter that we know it a stunt double do most of the difficult riding in several scene and we can clearly see a creepy look man in a wig but the positive message remain the same . i will wager that national velvet have nurture the imagination of million of young girl over the last sixty year and and it power to inspire have decrease little with time .