A cowboy captures and trains a wild horse which he calls Smoky. A special bond is formed between the two, but Smoky is lost during a cattle raid. This blatantly sentimental film was quite a hit in its day and is the best of the three versions of the story made. Luckily it manages to avoid wallowing in the mire of mawkishness, into which it could so easily have slipped, even though it occasionally brings a lump to the throat. This is thanks to fine playing by Fred MacMurray, Anne Baxter and (in his first film) Burl Ives, and to director Louis King's firm grip on the story. You'll cheer for Smoky and hiss bad old Bruce Cabot as he ill-treats the horse in a scene that may upset some younger children.

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