Based upon the 1982 children’s novel and the successful stage play, Steven Spielberg's long anticipated film adaptation of War Horse is scheduled to be released on December 28th. Set during World War I, War Horse is about Albert, a young English farm boy who, despite being underage, enlists in the war when Joey, his beloved stallion, is sold to the British Calvary. Needless to say Albert's concern for Joey was reality-based, as battlefield horses had short life spans. There are some statistics that of the one million horses taken for the war effort (specifically from England), only 62,000 returned. Like the stage adaptation before it, the film is told through the eyes of a horse and it will likely be an emotional tear jerker, requiring loads of tissues. Spielberg is well-known for his overt sentimentality.
The play originated at Britain's National Theatre and is currently on Broadway. In June, War Horse won five Tony awards, including the award for best play. The stage production is renowned for it's brilliant use of life-sized horse puppetry. With the proper lighting, the puppets have the appearance of real horses. Thus, one would think that using real horses in the film version would convey the emotion of Albert and Joey's relationship, but Spielberg was reportedly frustrated that the real-life horses were not as expressive or well-behaved as the life-sized puppets used in the play.
Spielberg shot the film in England with a predominately British cast, including newcomer Jeremy Irvine as Albert. With the production of several other blockbusters this year, Spielberg is most certainly the hardest working man in show business. Nevertheless, War Horse is the first film directed by Spielberg since 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls (excluding the co-directorship with Peter Jackson on The Adventures of Tintin).
Given the seriousness of the subject matter and the likely dramatic scenes of loss of life (human and horse), the film could have difficulty finding it's niche audience. War Horse may be based on a children's book, but it isn't similar to other horse films like Black Beauty, Sea Biscuit, or Secretariat. Even for Spielberg, making a film about a horse during World War I is risky. That said, given the quality of Spielberg's films, the beautiful cinematography, and the heart-stirring storyline, War Horse is sure to find it's feet with holiday audiences. David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Emily Watson costar.
The trailer can be viewed here.
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