| Thunderhead, Son of Flicka | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Louis King |
| Produced by | Robert Bassler |
| Written by | Mary O'Hara (novel) Dwight Cummins Dorothy Yost |
| Starring | Roddy McDowall Preston Foster Rita Johnson |
| Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
| Cinematography | Charles G. Clarke |
| Editing by | Nick DeMaggio |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | March 15, 1945 |
| Running time | 78 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Thunderhead, Son of Flicka is a 1945 Technicolor family film directed by Louis King. It was adapted to screen by Dwight Cummins and Dorothy Yost from the novel by Mary O'Hara, and is based on the second book in the series, following Flicka, which was filmed in 1943 and remade in 2006. The first feature film to be photographed entirely on 35mm Color negative film, in this case Technicolor Color motion picture film (section Monopack color film). Earlier color features used black and white negative film photographed behind color filters, or used Monopack only for certain sequences.[1]
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Ken McLaughlin's (Roddy McDowall) mare Flicka, gives birth to an all-white colt that, unknown to Ken's dad, Rob (Preston Foster), was actually sired by a neighboring rancher's thoroughbred racehorse, Appalachia, rather than Rob's own stallion, Banner. Ken's mother, Nell (Rita Johnson), names the colt, Thunderhead, after the billowing white clouds she sees overhead. Ken wants to train Thunderhead as a race horse, but the difficult colt seems unsuitable for the track.
Meawhile, the Albino, a wild stallion that has been raiding local ranchers' herds for years, steals Rob McLaughlin's best mares and kills Banner, putting the family near bankruptcy. The Albino is also Thunderhead's grand-sire. Rob, Ken, and the ranch hands search for the mares, but during the night, Thunderhead gets loose and runs off. Tracking Thunderhead on foot to a secluded valley, Ken discovers the Albino's herd, including his father's horses. The Albino attacks Ken, but Thunderhead fights and kills the Albino, saving Ken's life. Rob and the others arrive as Thunderhead rounds up the Albino's herd, heading them to the McLaughlin ranch. But once there, Thunderhead is uneasy. Rob tells Ken that Thunderhead is a king now and wants to roam his realm. Ken removes Thunderhead's halter, freeing him.
The film was shot on location at various sites, including the following;