Gallant Bess (1946)

I loved this movie... saw it as a kid in the theater... always watched it on television over the years... but haven't seen it for years... I always cried... at the age of 71, I still remember the powerful story... Even better than National Velvet. Was the first war movie that I can remember seeing. I think I was about 9 when I saw it the first time at the theater. Any horse lover would never forget it.. I will have to see if Netflix has it.. I remember my scariest part was when Bess got bogged down in the mud and they were trying to get her out... because I was so young, the war part scared me.. but I truly loved the horse.

I too was a horse crazy little girl when I saw the movie, Gallant Bess. I have never forgotten that movie and have looked and looked for years to get a copy. Of all the animal movies I have watched and I either own or have seen almost all of them that have come out over the years, including TV series animal shows, this movie made one of the deepest impressions on me. I am so happy to know who now owns the rights to it and that it has been aired in more recent years. I own and show many, many dogs and have had horses up to about two years ago (I am now 68), but this movie has stayed with me all my life. I will continue to pursue the purchase of it somehow, someway. Most of all, I am thrilled to find out that the horse and the story are true. That makes it even more endearing. Maybe if enough of us hound Turner Classic Movies, they will at least air it again so we can tape it or buy it someday.

Some people are unsure if Gallant Bess is based on a true story or not.It is. Sort of.The second half of the movie, when Tex rescues a horse during the war, was based on my grandfather's rescue of Bess while on the Solomon Islands during WWII.Bess starred as herself in the movie, ie, the horse that was really rescued was the horse in the movie.Search Wikipedia.org for "Gallant Bess" for the article I am writing regarding the true story.Glad to see people out there still enjoy this movie! I tease my dad, who's father was Bess' master ("Tex" in the movie) and who rode Bess all the time as a kid, about having cried when he saw the movie for the first time as a kid.

This is one of two war movie ( The other was Sargent York)that I remember enjoying as a youth. I love movies with horses. Other movies I enjoyed are My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead(Son of Flicka) and Tonka(Disney movie). There was plenty of action in the film and a lot of sentiment. It has been a long time since I saw this movie. However, I liked it so much, I can close my eyes and mental see the story. I have been searching for a copy of this movie for several years.