A rather jolly, brightly-coloured new version of Anna Sewell's famous tale about the eponymous black horse that undergoes various hardships as it moves from owner to owner. Sean Bean (as Farmer Grey) leads a cast of British worthies in this plush production that handles the story appealingly and tugs sensitively at the heartstrings at the key moments. It at least offers one ingenious touch over any other version: the story's told by the horse (voiced by Alan Cumming).

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