The White Horses
Encyclopedia
The White Horses is a 1965 television series co-produced by RTV Ljubljana (now RTV Slovenija) of Yugoslavia
and German TV (Südwestfunk).
) who leaves Belgrade
to spend a holiday on a stud farm
run by her Uncle Dimitri (played by Helmuth Schneider
), where with the help of head groom Hugo (Franz Muxeneder), white Lipizzaner horses are raised.
In the first episode, stallion Boris is stolen by gypsies who dye his white coat brown so that no one will recognise him. Julia and Hugo set off to find Boris and upon his recovery an affinity is formed between girl and horse.
") in German, comprised thirteen 25-minute black and white episodes.
A dubbed version was broadcast in the United Kingdom from 1968, and repeated for many years afterwards (the dubbed soundtrack has since been lost). Although an off air audio recording of the english dub of episode thirteen, 'House Arrest For Othello', does exist.
.
The UK theme song - written by Michael Carr
and Ben Nisbet and later back dubbed onto all versions, was simply titled "White Horses", and credited to "Jacky" - was sung by Jackie Lee
. It became a top 10 hit in the UK charts in April 1968. The book The Penguin Television Companion claimed it to be the best television theme in history. It has been copied and used many times since, including:
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and German TV (Südwestfunk).
Plotline
The story follows the adventures of a teenage girl Julia (played by Helga AndersHelga Anders
Helga Anders was an Austrian television actress.She was born to an Austrian father and a German mother and she grew up in Ruhpolding and Bielefeld after her parents' divorce. She made her stage debut at the age of eight...
) who leaves Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
to spend a holiday on a stud farm
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
run by her Uncle Dimitri (played by Helmuth Schneider
Helmuth Schneider
Helmuth Schneider was a German actor. In Great Britain his best known role could be Uncle Dimitri in The White Horses. He died in a traffic accident in Rio de Janeiro in 1972.-External links:...
), where with the help of head groom Hugo (Franz Muxeneder), white Lipizzaner horses are raised.
In the first episode, stallion Boris is stolen by gypsies who dye his white coat brown so that no one will recognise him. Julia and Hugo set off to find Boris and upon his recovery an affinity is formed between girl and horse.
Transmission
The series, called Počitnice v Lipici in Slovenian and Ferien in Lipizza ("Holidays in LipicaLipica
Lipica is a village in the Municipality of Sežana in the Littoral region of Slovenia, close to the border with Italy.Lipica is one of the main tourist centers of the Slovenia's Karst region. It is the origin of the Lipizzaner horses. The Lipica stud farm was established in 1580 by Charles II,...
") in German, comprised thirteen 25-minute black and white episodes.
A dubbed version was broadcast in the United Kingdom from 1968, and repeated for many years afterwards (the dubbed soundtrack has since been lost). Although an off air audio recording of the english dub of episode thirteen, 'House Arrest For Othello', does exist.
Theme song
The theme song to the German version was played by Ivo RobićIvo Robic
Ivo Robić was Croatian singer and songwriter.-Domestic career:Robić began his career as a soloist with the Radio Zagreb Orchestra, while studying at the same time in Zagreb...
.
The UK theme song - written by Michael Carr
Michael Carr (composer)
Michael Carr , real name Maurice Alfred Cohen, was a British light music composer born in Leeds. He is best remembered for the song "South of the Border ", written with Jimmy Kennedy for the 1939 film of the same name.Among Carr's other compositions were The Shadows instrumental hits "Man of...
and Ben Nisbet and later back dubbed onto all versions, was simply titled "White Horses", and credited to "Jacky" - was sung by Jackie Lee
Jackie Lee
Jackie Lee is an Irish popular music singer, who has recorded under various names.-Career:Lee was a musical child prodigy. She won a scholarship and trained as a soprano for four years...
. It became a top 10 hit in the UK charts in April 1968. The book The Penguin Television Companion claimed it to be the best television theme in history. It has been copied and used many times since, including:
- The theme was covered in 1968 by Claudine LongetClaudine LongetClaudine Georgette Longet is a French singer and recording artist who was popular during the 1960s and 1970s. She is also an actress and a dancer.Born in Paris, France, Longet was married to pop singer Andy Williams from 1961 until 1975...
, as a B-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to the single "Nothing to Lose". - Trixie's Big Red MotorbikeTrixie's Big Red MotorbikeTrixie's Big Red Motorbike were an indiepop band formed in the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, in 1981.They released two singles, one e.p. and one flexidisc...
covered the song on their second John Peel session in 1983. - The Trashcan Sinatras featured a version of the song on their EP Circling the Circumference (1990)
- The English band Kitchens of DistinctionKitchens of DistinctionKitchens of Distinction were a three-person alternative rock/dream pop band formed in Tooting, South London, England in 1986...
recorded a coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the theme song during the sessions for what would be their final album, Cowboys and Aliens (1994). The song was first released in the UK as a b-sideA-side and B-sideA-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
on the album's first single, "Now It's Time to Say Goodbye"; it was later released in the US as a b-side on the album's title track - The film Me Without YouMe Without You (film)Me Without You is a 2001 British film, starring Anna Friel, Michelle Williams and Oliver Milburn, and written and directed by Sandra Goldbacher.- Plot :...
(2001) used the Jacky "stereo" version on its opening credits, and a version by Lucy Street during the end credits - Cerys MatthewsCerys MatthewsCerys Elizabeth Matthews is a Welsh singer and songwriter. She is known as the lead singer of the Welsh rock band Catatonia, her more recent bilingual solo career, and for a 1998 Christmas duet with Tom Jones.-Biography:...
performed the song on the compilation Songs for the Young at HeartSongs for the Young at HeartSongs for the Young at Heart is a children's music album put together by Stuart A. Staples and Dave Boulter, both from the band Tindersticks...
(2007) - The theme was covered by Dean and BrittaDean and BrittaDean & Britta is a musical duo consisting of Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips, both former members of Luna. Wareham had formed Luna in 1991 after leaving his first band, Galaxie 500. Phillips joined Luna in 2000, replacing bassist Justin Harwood.-History:...
on their album Back NumbersBack NumbersBack Numbers is the second album by Dean & Britta, released in 2007.- Track listing :All tracks by Dean & Britta] except were noted# "Singer Sing" - 4:15# "Words You Used to Say" - 4:21# "Wait for Me" - 3:40...
(2007) - The theme was covered by Andrea RossAndrea RossAndrea Christine Ross is an American singer and actress. She has been an award-winning lead actress on stage in her local area of Boston, Massachusetts since the age of eight years old...
on her album Moon RiverMoon River (album)Moon River is the debut album by American singer and actress Andrea Ross, released in March 2007. The record was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Nigel Wright and recorded in the UK in March 2006 when Andrea Ross was just 14 years old...
(2007)