I too loved the movie!!! and Veeeeeee, but I have a friend who said he watched the documentary on the cable and he said none of this ever happened in real life. Do you have any facts for me? I would love to prove this guy wrong !!!

Kay

I wish I did have some of the facts -- the movie made me interested enough in the story to want to do some research. I may see what's out in the library here.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that a vast majority of the things which happened in the film were fabricated. Hollywood uses "based on a true story" pretty loosely -- if they've got the person's name right and the ultimate outcome, they tend to create the drama they need for a film structure out of what they have (meaning, they may shorten or combine events to give a better narrative flow for a 2 hour story). I think it was Gary Ross who adapted Seabiscuit who recently said that if he had put in every interesting event from the book into the film, he'd have had a 7 hour movie. So your friend is probably right.

There was an article about this movie recently in Outside magazine. Turns out that the guy who the movie is based on was lying about the whole thing. He lied about several races, and this was his biggest. In the article, it explains how he just held a normal job, and was looking for excitement. He lied about the whole race. The writers of the article doubted whether there was actually a race that lasted three thousand miles in the middle east.

That's interesting to hear -- thanks! I'll go see if I can find that article; sounds like something I'd like to read.

As a member of the Buffalo Bill Historical Society I receive thier magazine, Points West, and in the last issue they were outraged that Hollywood spent months having them research Frank Hoskins only to have NOTHING turn up in their tons of documents, payroll, posters, everything relating to Buffalo Bill and then have all the negitive research ignored by the producers who continued to sell the story as true. I've seen the movie twice and love it even with all it's faults. It would have been just as beautifully filmed and told as fiction as opposed to "based on fact".

Very interesting! I saw the movie last night and enjoyed it, but I doubted it was based on the truth. I do believe that there is a race in Arabia, but I doubt it's 3000 miles. There were definately some echoes of what I would consider authentic touches (bloodlines book and the discussion of the purity of the horses) but the story of a cowboy on a mustang just doesn't ring true...especially that last part when the half dead horse gets up and wins the race! But still a very enjoyable movie...lol...I like Star wars just as much!

I was the movie on Monday, June 7. I loved it, but then again anything that shows the power and "showmanship" of horses will draw me to a movie. Based on a true story? I'm not too sure about that. The part at the end about the horses preserved in Bluejack, Oklahoma I am researching. I was raised in Oklahoma and this was new to me. My Dad was an Oklahoma historian and I don't remember him ever mentioning anything about the horses. But, whether the movie is based on a "true story" or not doesn't take away the enjoyment of the film.

Loved the movie, look at the BLM website they auction horses out of Blackjack Oklahoma all the time. Appears their was a documentary on tv that states the hildago breed is held on private land and not for auction. How can this be false when they have photos of Frank H. on his horse. Confused. However I loved the movie. Wish their were more like it

yes kay i have some facts for you and yes the moie is based on a real story if you look up the Frank T. Hopkins you will find a lot more then the man you have been listening to! i have a mustang just like hildalgo and so i looked up a lot of info about Mr. Hopkins and the movie and the movie is based on a TRUE story so now you can prove your friend WRONG!!!