FUN FACTS

• IT TAKES FIVE — The production relied on five horses to play Secretariat—four thoroughbreds and a quarterhorse. Not only did they have to perform like the champion equine, they also had to look the part. To replicate Secretariat’s white signature markings, everyday Lisa Brown (Horse Continuity) painstakingly painted the three distinctive white socks and the facial white stripe and star on to each of the horses.
• NOSE TO NOSE — Nelsan Ellis (Eddie Sweat) experienced a very close relationship with all the horses—sometimes a bit too close. During the course of production he was nuzzled, bitten in the stomach and stomped on.
• DISCOVERED — One of the horses that played Secretariat in the film, Trolley Boy, was discovered in true Hollywood fashion after winning a Secretariat Look-Alike contest held at the Secretariat Festival in Paris, Kentucky. According to Diane Lane, Trolley Boy brought his own special talent to the role. When shooting close-ups with Lane, Trolley Boy had a tendency to chew the bit loudly which often caused her to laugh and break character.
• PUZZLED — The cast and crew of “Secretariat” were addicted to crossword puzzles, especially Diane Lane, John Malkovich and Margo Martindale. Lane was such a super fan of the brain teaser; she created her own crossword puzzle during production.
• PEACHES — The fluffy blonde wig that Diane Lane wore in the film was playfully nicknamed Peaches.
• INSPIRED — Make-up artist Julie Hewett used Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis as her style icon when designing the look of Penny Chenery in the film. Photographs of the former First Lady were plastered all over the walls of the make-up trailer.
• UP CLOSE — In order for the audience to get the jockey’s perspective, director of photography Dean Semler attached small, lightweight digital cameras to sticks and positioned them close to the horses as they thundered down the track. The horses got used to these cameras being in such close range, but the same was not true for the actors. When recreating Ronnie Turcotte’s famous look back during the Belmont Stakes, Otto Thorwarth peered backwards and was startled by camera.
• AUTHENTICITY — The production used the actual Triple Crown trophy, on loan from the Kentucky Derby Museum. The coveted cup was created by Cartier in 1978 after Affirmed won the Triple Crown in preparation for the next winner.  It had to be handled with gloves and was hand carried back and forth between Kentucky and Louisiana.
• DOUBLE DUTY — The head of the make-up department, Michael Mills, played a fellow golfer alongside John Malkovich’s character Lucien Laurin. Lead horse wrangler Rusty Hendrickson not only cast the horses in the film, but he also portrayed a fry cook in a diner scene.

Secretariat Stats:

• BIG HEART — Secretariat’s heart was twice the size of an average horse’s heart.
• RECORD BREAKER — Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths and still holds the record time at 2:24 for 1.5 miles.
• COVER BOY — In 1973, weekly mags Time, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek all featured Secretariat on their respective covers the same week.
• AMONG THE GREATS — Secretariat was ranked the 35^th Greatest Athlete of the 20^th Century by ESPN.
• A STAR IS BORN — During the peak of Secretariat’s career, the William Morris Agency would book the horse’s appearances the same way they would any of their other (two legged) mega celebrity clients.

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Secretariat is being billed as the “Feel good movie of the year” and “The next Blindside”. While I agree it is definitely a “feel good” movie, I wouldn’t quite rank it up there with” The Blindside”. The story is very inspiring and uplifting but I don’t think it moves you to action like “The Blindside” did. The storyline moves smoothly through the film and is well paced. The soundtrack is perfect and the cinematography is at times breathtaking. I am not a horse person, nor am I a big fan of animal films but Secretariat is a sports film…that stars a horse and its owner.

The horses that play Secretariat are beautiful, strong, majestic and graceful. Diane Lane plays Penny Chenery with a perfect mix of loving wife and mother as well as savvy business woman with a big heart and a strong desire to succeed. The character of Penny Chenery also struggles greatly with what we moms now call work-life balance. Unlike many other reviews I’ve read, I wasn’t as excited about John Malkovich’s portrayal of Lucien Lauren. Malkovich did a good job with the comedic relief but I didn’t feel the depth and heart of Lauren ring through.

Nelsan Ellis was endearing as Eddie Sweat, the groom and his depth and heart made up for some of what was missing in Malkovich’s character. I found the character of Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s jockey, spunky and endearing and today as I was researching the actor who played that part, Otto Thorwarth, I found out he isn’t an actor at all! He is a professional jockey with over 1300 wins under his belt! No wonder he looked so comfortable on a horse!

The story of Secretariat is history, not just a feel good story. Parents, even if your kids don’t have a clue about the story of one of the world’s greatest athletes, they should see this movie. The themes of determination, family and risk taking are inspiring. The movie is rated PG for death, tense family situations, brief mild language. I feel this movie is appropriate for most children ages 8 and up.

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Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner.  Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge.  Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Here is a new behind-the-scenes featurette from SECRETARIAT “Making of a Champion”.

You can like “Secretariat” on Facebook and follow the movie on Twitter. I’ll be there opening weekend…will you? Leave me a comment and let me know if you plan on seeing this movie.

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