The Red Pony

"John Steinbeck's great American story !"

Mar 28 1949 Approved 1h 29m
Drama, Family, Western

Peter Miles stars as Tom Tiflin, the little boy at the heart of this John Steinbeck story set in Salinas Valley. With his incompatible parents -- the city-loving Fred and country-happy Alice -- constantly bickering, Tom looks to cowboy Billy Buck for companionship and paternal love.

Plot

In the coast range mountains on the western edge of the Salinas Valley is a ranch where Tom, a lad of about ten, longs for a pony. He lives with his mom, who was born there, her dad, a talkative pioneer who misses the old West, Tom's dad Fred Tiflin, who comes from the city and after years on the ranch doesn't feel at home there, and Billy, their trusted hand, a real cowboy. While Fred has to sort out whether he wants to stay a rancher and come to terms with his son being closer to Billy than to himself, Tom gets a pony and learns directly about responsibility and loss. What lessons can each learn, and are tragedy and hard choices all that life offers? Are laughter and joy anywhere?

Written by

John Steinbeck

Directed by

Lewis Milestone

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Republic Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
1,267
Average Rating
6.3 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA