Black Gold (DVD)

For his first above-the-title starring role after 11 years in supporting parts of all stripes, Anthony Quinn struck Black Gold with this low-budget-but-high-flying charmer based on the true story of a champion racehorse and its Native American owner Charlie Eagle(Quinn) has a big heart and big dreams of seeing his throughbred mare Black Hope mothering a Kentucky Derby winner. After he and his faithful wife (Quinn's then real-life spouse Katherine DeMille) adopt an orphan Chinese boy (Ducky Louie), their fortunes change when developers strike oil on their property, and they can afford to breed Black Hope. Tragedy strikes when Black Hope is crippled after giving birth - but her spirited colt Black Gold becomes the standard-bearer of the family's hopes. A film of grace notes, simple emotions and climactic thrills directed by B-movie master Phil Karlson.