Seabiscuit: America’s Legendary Racehorse (2003)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Features:

• Recordings of radio race broadcasts
  
• Trivia game
  
• Slideshow
  
• Interviews
  

Released by: Delta
Region: 1
Rating: NR, safe for all ages
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format.

My Advice: Rent it, or buy it if you love horses or American history

Take one burned-out racehorse, a jockey blind in one eye, a cocky rider, an aging and "second-rate" trainer, and add a Buick salesman, and what do you get? Why, a Cinderella story, of course. The amazing story of Seabiscuit galvanized the nation, enraptured millions, and set the stage for other longshot stories to capture our hearts for years to come.

During the Great Depression, Americans really needed something to believe in and something to hope for, and they got it in Seabiscuit. This documentary traces Seabiscuit’s amazing come-from-behind career and profiles the remarkable people involved in the story as well. Personalizing the history is a marvelous way of allowing viewers to get into this story and truly start to feel what is going on, as the audience of the time must have felt: working class horse and trainers make good.

The audio and video quality are both higher than you might assume, given the age of the originals. The bonus radio broadcasts probably have the most audio problems, but even they are plenty clear enough to enjoy and to understand, and the crackling and metallic echo just adds to the charm. The overall sepia-toned look to the historical footage does a lovely job of conjuring up the mood of the actual days.

The features list is quite impressive. We have recordings of the live radio broadcasts of Seabiscuit’s races, which are no less exciting when you know the outcome; it's fun to hear the tension and the joy in the voices of the announcers, as well, not to mention the roaring of the crowds in the background. We are also treated to a lengthy and wonderful interview with Laura Hillenbrand, writer of a book on Seabiscuit's rise to fame and success, and Bob Baffert, who has himself trained two Kentucky Derby winners, "Silver Charm" and "Real Quiet." There is also a fun and informative Seabiscuit trivia game perfect for all horsey fans and a slideshow of some marvelous historical photography.

Basically, if you saw the new movie with Tobey MacGuire and loved it, then you’ll want to see this "real" version, too. Also, I highly recommend this documentary to anyone who loves horses or who is fascinated by American history and culture. Fans of hard-luck tales and Cinderella stories like The Mighty Ducks will also be charmed by this one, perhaps particularly because it’s all true. Anyone who loves tales of determination and following your dream no matter the odds, will love this true story.