The Black Stallion (1979 Caroll Ballard)

Based on Walter Farley's 1941 debut novel (there was a whole ton of Black Stallion stories thereafter of increasingly dubious-sounding worth e.g. 1969's 'The Black Stallion's Ghost'), adapted by Melissa Mathison, Jeanne Rosenberg & William Witliff (and, apparently Walter Murch! It is a Zoetrope production.)

Sensationally shot by Caleb Deschanel (and Stephen Burum) the first hour is almost like a Malick, even in initial US scenes, small on dialogue and big on stunning shots of nature, close ups, skies, dissolves. The 'taming' scene between horse and boy - in one long joyous seashore take - is utterly superb, also the following scenes of underwater 'dancing', learning to ride. The boy, Kelly Reno (whose subsequent career was obliterated by a car accident) is excellent and he's clearly riding the horse (Cass-Olé) brilliantly. All this to Carmine Coppola's fruity score.

Like in Walkabout you get the sense the boy is happier where he was, and the film becomes somewhat more conventional in racing story that is Part 2, with an almost redundant role for mother Teri Garr, plus trainer Mickey Rooney and Clarence Muse, though it remains a stylish pleasure throughout.

Good editing too, by Robert Dalva.