Seabiscuit (film)
Encyclopedia
Seabiscuit is a 2003 American biographical film
based on the best-selling non-fiction book Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by Laura Hillenbrand
. The film is loosely based on the life and racing career of Seabiscuit
, an undersized and overlooked thoroughbred
race horse, whose unexpected successes made him a hugely popular media sensation in the United States
near the end of the Great Depression
.
), Charles S. Howard (Jeff Bridges
), and Tom Smith (Chris Cooper
) come together, respectively, as the principal jockey, owner, and trainer of the championship horse Seabiscuit
, rising from troubled times to achieve fame and success through their association with the horse.
Red is the child of a wealthy family that is financially ruined by the Great Depression
. In desperate need of money, the family leaves Red with a horse trainer. Red eventually becomes a jockey, but makes extra money through illegal boxing matches which leave him almost blind in one eye. Howard is a clerk in a bicycle shop who gets asked by a passing motorist to repair his automobile, a technology which has recently been introduced. Some years later, Howard is the largest car dealer in California and one of the Bay Area's richest men. However, his son is killed in an automobile accident while driving the family car, which sends Howard into a bout of deep depression
, which eventually results in his wife (Valerie Mahaffey) leaving him. On a trip to Mexico to obtain a divorce and to drown his sorrows, he meets Marcela (Elizabeth Banks
), whom he marries.
Howard then runs into Smith, a horse trainer who has been homeless. Howard hires him to take care of his newly acquired stable of horses. Smith later tries to get a jockey to ride Seabiscuit, but the jockey is frightened off when Seabiscuit rips off a bit of his shirt. Smith then finds Red Pollard fighting with other stable boys and sees in him a similar temperament to the horse. They begin to race Seabiscuit. After considerable success, Howard tries to provoke a race with War Admiral
, the top race horse in the country. While they wait for that date, Pollard is asked to exercise a race horse for an old friend. Someone suddenly starts a tractor, spooking the horse. Pollard falls off and is dragged along until he crashes into a wall, fracturing his leg. When the doctor reports that he will be unable to be a jockey again, Red suggests that Howard get the successful George Woolf (Gary Stevens) to be his new rider.
Red teaches Woolf about Seabiscuit's handling and mannerisms. In the big match race
, Seabiscuit upsets the heavy favorite, War Admiral, partly because of a secret that Pollard relates, instructing Woolf to hold him head to head with the other horse so he gets "a good look at the Admiral." Later on, Seabiscuit is racing at Santa Anita
when he is injured and has to stop. Red helps him to recover and get fit enough to race again. The last race is again at the Santa Anita, and Red rides him this time after putting a special self-made brace on his own leg to keep it stable. Woolf is on a different horse. Seabiscuit drops to last place and trails the pack, but Woolf holds back to be alongside Red. After a short conversation, Seabiscuit surges and wins the race.
Red says, "You know, everyone thinks that we found this broken down horse and fixed him, but we didn't. He fixed us, every one of us, and I guess in a way we kinda fixed each other, too"
in Arcadia, California
, Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky
and Saratoga Race Course
in Saratoga Springs, New York
. Keeneland was chosen to double for Pimlico Race Course because Pimlico had dramatically changed physically since Seabiscuit's time.
, 77% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 199 reviews, and an average rating of 7.1/10, with the consensus: "A life-affirming, if saccharine, epic treatment of a spirit-lifting figure in sports history".
American Film Institute
Recognition:
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
based on the best-selling non-fiction book Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Seabiscuit: An American Legend is a non-fiction book written by Laura Hillenbrand published in 2001 about the thoroughbred race horse, Seabiscuit. It won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year and was made into a feature film in 2003. It has also been published under the title: Seabiscuit - The...
by Laura Hillenbrand
Laura Hillenbrand
Laura Hillenbrand is an American author of books and magazine articles.Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Hillenbrand spent much of her childhood riding bareback "screaming over the hills" of her father's Sharpsburg, Maryland, farm. A favorite of hers was Come On Seabiscuit, a 1963 kiddie book. "I read...
. The film is loosely based on the life and racing career of Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
, an undersized and overlooked thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horse, whose unexpected successes made him a hugely popular media sensation in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
near the end of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
Plot
Three men, Red Pollard (Tobey MaguireTobey Maguire
Tobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor and producer. He began his career in the 1980s, and has achieved his greatest fame for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
), Charles S. Howard (Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges
Jeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
), and Tom Smith (Chris Cooper
Chris Cooper (actor)
Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s. He has appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Capote, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and...
) come together, respectively, as the principal jockey, owner, and trainer of the championship horse Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit
Seabiscuit was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression...
, rising from troubled times to achieve fame and success through their association with the horse.
Red is the child of a wealthy family that is financially ruined by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In desperate need of money, the family leaves Red with a horse trainer. Red eventually becomes a jockey, but makes extra money through illegal boxing matches which leave him almost blind in one eye. Howard is a clerk in a bicycle shop who gets asked by a passing motorist to repair his automobile, a technology which has recently been introduced. Some years later, Howard is the largest car dealer in California and one of the Bay Area's richest men. However, his son is killed in an automobile accident while driving the family car, which sends Howard into a bout of deep depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
, which eventually results in his wife (Valerie Mahaffey) leaving him. On a trip to Mexico to obtain a divorce and to drown his sorrows, he meets Marcela (Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
), whom he marries.
Howard then runs into Smith, a horse trainer who has been homeless. Howard hires him to take care of his newly acquired stable of horses. Smith later tries to get a jockey to ride Seabiscuit, but the jockey is frightened off when Seabiscuit rips off a bit of his shirt. Smith then finds Red Pollard fighting with other stable boys and sees in him a similar temperament to the horse. They begin to race Seabiscuit. After considerable success, Howard tries to provoke a race with War Admiral
War Admiral
War Admiral was an American thoroughbred racehorse, the offspring of the great thoroughbred Man o' War and the mare Brushup. He inherited his father's fiery temperament and talent, but did not resemble him physically...
, the top race horse in the country. While they wait for that date, Pollard is asked to exercise a race horse for an old friend. Someone suddenly starts a tractor, spooking the horse. Pollard falls off and is dragged along until he crashes into a wall, fracturing his leg. When the doctor reports that he will be unable to be a jockey again, Red suggests that Howard get the successful George Woolf (Gary Stevens) to be his new rider.
Red teaches Woolf about Seabiscuit's handling and mannerisms. In the big match race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
, Seabiscuit upsets the heavy favorite, War Admiral, partly because of a secret that Pollard relates, instructing Woolf to hold him head to head with the other horse so he gets "a good look at the Admiral." Later on, Seabiscuit is racing at Santa Anita
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
when he is injured and has to stop. Red helps him to recover and get fit enough to race again. The last race is again at the Santa Anita, and Red rides him this time after putting a special self-made brace on his own leg to keep it stable. Woolf is on a different horse. Seabiscuit drops to last place and trails the pack, but Woolf holds back to be alongside Red. After a short conversation, Seabiscuit surges and wins the race.
Red says, "You know, everyone thinks that we found this broken down horse and fixed him, but we didn't. He fixed us, every one of us, and I guess in a way we kinda fixed each other, too"
Cast
- Tobey MaguireTobey MaguireTobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor and producer. He began his career in the 1980s, and has achieved his greatest fame for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
as Red Pollard - Jeff BridgesJeff BridgesJeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart....
as Charles S. Howard - Chris CooperChris Cooper (actor)Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s. He has appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Capote, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and...
as Tom Smith - Elizabeth BanksElizabeth BanksElizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
as Marcela - Gary Stevens as George WoolfGeorge WoolfGeorge Monroe Woolf , nicknamed "The Ice Man", was a Canadian-born thoroughbred race horse jockey and the namesake of the annual jockey's award given by the United States Jockeys' Guild....
- William H. MacyWilliam H. MacyWilliam Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
as Tick Tock
Production
The film was shot at Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
in Arcadia, California
Arcadia, California
Arcadia is an affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, and located approximately northeast of downtown Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley and at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains....
, Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
in Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
. Keeneland was chosen to double for Pimlico Race Course because Pimlico had dramatically changed physically since Seabiscuit's time.
Critical reception
On the review website Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, 77% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 199 reviews, and an average rating of 7.1/10, with the consensus: "A life-affirming, if saccharine, epic treatment of a spirit-lifting figure in sports history".
American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
Recognition:
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers- #50
Accolades
| Group | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards | Top Box Office Films | Randy Newman Randy Newman Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores.... |
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| 76th Academy Awards 76th Academy Awards The 76th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films of 2003 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February 29, 2004 . The show was produced by Joe Roth and was hosted for the eighth time by comedian Billy Crystal.The... |
Best Picture Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only... |
Kathleen Kennedy Frank Marshall Gary Ross Gary Ross Gary Ross is an American writer, director, and actor. He is best known for directing Pleasantville and Seabiscuit, both of which featured Tobey Maguire in the lead role... |
|
| Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) | Gary Ross | ||
| Best Art Direction Academy Award for Best Art Direction The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999... |
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall Leslie A. Pope |
||
| Best Cinematography Academy Award for Best Cinematography The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:... |
John Schwartzman John Schwartzman John Schwartzman A.S.C. is an American cinematographer for numerous films.He is the son of Jack Schwartzman and stepson of Talia Shire. He is best known for his collaborations with director Michael Bay... |
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| Best Costume Design | Judianna Makovsky | ||
| Best Film Editing | William Goldenberg William Goldenberg William Goldenberg is a film editor with more than twenty credits since 1992. He has been nominated for the Academy Award for Film Editing for the films Seabiscuit and The Insider... |
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| Best Sound | Andy Nelson Andy Nelson (sound engineer) Andy Nelson is an Australian sound engineer. He won an Academy Award for Best Sound and has been nominated for fourteen more in the same category... Anna Behlmer Anna Behlmer Anna Behlmer is an American sound engineer. She has been nominated for ten Academy Awards in the category Best Sound. She has worked on over 120 films since 1987.-Selected filmography:* Braveheart * Evita * L.A... Tod A. Maitland Tod A. Maitland Tod A. Maitland is an American sound engineer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards in the category Best Sound. He has worked on over 80 films since 1978.-Selected filmography:* Born on the Fourth of July * JFK... |
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| 54th ACE Eddie Awards American Cinema Editors Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing itself. The society is not to be confused with an industry union, such as the I.A.T.S.E... |
Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Dramatic The American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film - Dramatic is one of the annual awards given by the American Cinema Editors.This award has been a good indicator of the nominees and winners for the Academy Award for Best Editing.-2000s:... |
William Goldenberg | |
| American Society of Cinematographers Awards 2003 American Society of Cinematographers Awards 2003 The 18th American Society of Cinematographers Awards, given on 8 February 2004, honored the best cinematographers of 2003. -Winners:*Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases:**Seabiscuit - John Schwartzman... |
Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases | John Schwartzman | |
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2003 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2003 The 9th Critics' Choice Awards, honoring the best in film for 2003, were given on 10 January 2004.-Top 10 Films:#Big Fish#Cold Mountain#Finding Nemo#In America#The Last Samurai... |
Best Film | ||
| Best Screenplay | Gary Ross | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards 2003 Directors Guild of America Awards 2003 The 56th Directors Guild of America Awards, given on February 7, 2004, honored the best film and television directors in 2003.-Film:Best Director - Motion PicturePeter Jackson - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King... |
Outstanding Directing – Feature Film | Gary Ross | |
| 61st Golden Globe Awards 61st Golden Globe Awards The 61st Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film and television for 2003, were held on January 25, 2004 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California... |
Best Motion Picture – Drama | ||
| Satellite Awards 2003 Golden Satellite Awards 2003 The 8th Golden Satellite Awards, given by the International Press Academy, honored the best in film and television for 2003.-Best Actor - Drama: Sean Penn - 21 Grams and Mystic River*Hayden Christensen - Shattered Glass... |
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon "Jeff" Bridges is an American actor and musician. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis "Bad" Blake in the 2009 film Crazy Heart.... |
|
| Best Art Direction and Production Design Satellite Award for Best Art Direction and Production Design The Satellite Award for Best Art Direction is one the annual awards given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :Best Art Direction:*1996: Romeo + Juliet**The English Patient**Evita**Hamlet... |
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| Best Cinematography Satellite Award for Best Cinematography The Satellite Award for Best Cinematography is one of the annual Satellite Awards given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :... |
John Schwartzman | ||
| Best Costume Design Satellite Award for Best Costume Design The Satellite Award for Best Costume Design is one of the annual Satellite Awards given by the International Press Academy.- Winners and nominees :The following listing is based on the web postings of the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :... |
Judianna Makovsky | ||
| Best Editing Satellite Award for Best Editing The Satellite Award for Best Editing is one of the annual Satellite Awards given by the International Press Academy.- Winners and nominees :The following listing is based on the web postings of the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :... |
William Goldenberg | ||
| Best Original Score Satellite Award for Best Original Score The Satellite Award for Best Score is an annual award given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :... |
Randy Newman Randy Newman Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores.... |
||
| Best Adapted Screenplay Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is an annual award given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :- 2010s :... |
Gary Ross | ||
| Best Sound Satellite Award for Best Sound - 1990s :- 2000s :... |
|||
| 10th Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Chris Cooper Chris Cooper (actor) Christopher W. "Chris" Cooper is an American film actor. He became well known in the late 1990s. He has appeared in supporting performances in several major Hollywood films, including The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Capote, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, October Sky, Seabiscuit, and... |
|
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Elizabeth Banks Elizabeth Banks Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy... Jeff Bridges Chris Cooper William H. Macy William H. Macy William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though... Tobey Maguire Tobey Maguire Tobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor and producer. He began his career in the 1980s, and has achieved his greatest fame for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.-Early life:... Gary Stevens |
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| Writers Guild of America Awards 2003 Writers Guild of America Awards 2003 The 56th Writers Guild of America Awards, given in 2004, honored the film and television best writers of 2003.-Best Adapted Screenplay: American Splendor - Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini*Cold Mountain - Anthony Minghella... |
Best Adapted Screenplay Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay The Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is one of the three screenwriting Writers Guild of America Awards, one that is specifically for film... |
Gary Ross |