Does Hidalgo die at the end? Hidalgo is injured when he falls in a pit trap and is impaled on a piece of bamboo but he survives. A different horse in the race is severely injured and is stabbed to death to put it out of its misery.
Full Answer
What is the story behind the horse Hidalgo?
Hidalgo is a 2004 biographical western film based on the legend of the American distance rider Frank Hopkins and his mustang Hidalgo. It recounts Hopkins' racing his horse in Arabia in 1891 against Bedouins riding pure-blooded Arabian horses.
What happened to Anthony Hopkins'horse Hidalgo?
The film says that descendants of the horse Hidalgo, for which the movie was named, live among the Gilbert Jones herd of Spanish Mustangs on Blackjack Mountain in Oklahoma. By Hopkins' original account, he decided to leave his horse in Arabia after the race.
What kind of horses are the horses in Hidalgo?
Several American Paint horses were used to portray Hidalgo. The actor Viggo Mortensen later bought RH Tecontender, one of the horses used in the film.
What happened to Hidalgo in the wild mustang?
The wild horses are released and Frank frees Hidalgo to join them in the wilderness. The epilogue states that Hopkins went on to reportedly win 400 long-distance races and was an outspoken supporter for wild mustangs until his death in 1951, while Hidalgo's descendants live free in the wilderness in and around Oklahoma.
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What happened to the horse in Hidalgo?
Screenwriter John Fusco has moved the equine star onto his ranch, where he also keeps other retired movie horse stars from Young Guns, The Three Amigos and Silverado.
Does the horse live in Hidalgo?
The film says that descendants of the horse Hidalgo, for which the movie was named, live among the Gilbert Jones herd of Spanish Mustangs on Blackjack Mountain in Oklahoma. By Hopkins' original account, he decided to leave his horse in Arabia after the race.
How many horses played Hidalgo in the movie?
5 different horsesIt was filmed in California, South Dakota, the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, Oklahoma, Glacier National Park, Kalispell and Morocco. Viggo Mortensen purchased the horse that played Hidalgo after the film was done. 5 different horses played the role of Hidalgo.
Who owns the horse from Hidalgo?
Several American Paint horses were used to portray Hidalgo. The actor Viggo Mortensen later bought RH Tecontender, one of the horses used in the film. The screenwriter John Fusco bought Oscar, the main stunt horse, and retired him at Red Road Farm, his American Indian horse conservancy.
Did Hidalgo really win?
Hopkins and Hidalgo did win a 3,000-mile, 68-day endurance race across the Arabian peninsula, Syria and much of Iraq.
Does Viggo Mortensen still have his horse?
The 62-year-old said that the only horse that is still alive today is the one that he purchased for a stuntwoman “who I ended up becoming friends with”. He said: “I knew how much she liked that horse, so I bought it for her.
Did Viggo Mortensen do his own riding in Hidalgo?
Viggo Mortensen did many of his own stunts and horse riding in the movie.
How much of the movie Hidalgo is true?
Every questioner has asked, “is Hidalgo really a true story, as the filmmakers claim?” Sadly, we have had to inform them that it is not, at least from the perspective of Hopkins's non-existent connection with Buffalo Bill and the Wild West. It's a great story, but it never happened. The Hopkins search is far from over.
Was Al Hattal a real horse?
The Horse That Played Al-Hattal Was an Arabian Show Horse The black horse that played Al-Hattal was a black Arabian stallion by the name of TC Bey Cedar. Also known as Beyley, the show horse traveled to Morrocco for filming and did all his stunts himself.
How old do horses live?
25 – 30 yearsHorse / LifespanThe average horse lives for 25 to 30 years. However, in rare cases, domestic horses have lived into their 50s or 60s. There are many factors that affect the lifespan of a horse including: Nutrition.
Did Frank Hopkins really win the race?
Hopkins also claimed to have won a Texas-to-Vermont endurance race at age 21, riding an 800-pound buckskin, but there is no evidence in contemporary sources that such a race was ever held.
Can Robert Redford ride a horse?
Robert Redford Among some of Redford's top films are “The Electric Horseman” and the 1998 movie, “The Horse Whisperer.” But Redford himself is a skilled horseman.
Who was the horse in Hidalgo?
John Fusco named one of his horses Hidalgo while he was writing the movie. Viggo Mortensen gathered a bag full of earth at the real Wounded Knee and strewed it around the filming location standing in for the historical site. The horse who plays Al-Hattal is a black Arabian show champion named TC Bey Cedar.
What kind of horse is Hidalgo?
mustangHopkins' horse, Hidalgo, is a mustang, a wild mixed-breed horse that was introduced to the Americas with the arrival of the Spaniards to the New World.
Did Viggo Mortensen do his own riding in Hidalgo?
Viggo Mortensen Did Most of His Own Riding and Stunts.
How much of the movie Hidalgo is true?
Every questioner has asked, “is Hidalgo really a true story, as the filmmakers claim?” Sadly, we have had to inform them that it is not, at least from the perspective of Hopkins's non-existent connection with Buffalo Bill and the Wild West. It's a great story, but it never happened. The Hopkins search is far from over.
What horse was used in Hidalgo?
Horses. Several American Paint horses were used to portray Hidalgo. The actor Viggo Mortensen later bought RH Tecontender, one of the horses used in the film. The screenwriter John Fusco bought Oscar, the main stunt horse, and retired him at Red Road Farm, his American Indian horse conservancy.
Where did the horses in the movie Hidalgo live?
The film says that descendants of the horse Hidalgo, for which the movie was named, live among the Gilbert Jones herd of Spanish Mustangs on Blackjack Mountain in Oklahoma.
What is the movie Hidalgo about?
Hidalgo is a 2004 epic biographical western film based on the legend of the American distance rider Frank Hopkins and his mustang Hidalgo. It recounts Hopkins' racing his horse in Arabia in 1891 against Bedouins riding pure-blooded Arabian horses. The movie was written by John Fusco and directed by Joe Johnston.
When was Hidalgo released?
Hidalgo was released by Buena Vista Pictures on March 5, 2004. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews and was a box office disappointment, grossing $108 million against a budget of $100 million.
Where did John Fusco leave his horse?
By Hopkins' original account, he decided to leave his horse in Arabia after the race. In 2006, John Fusco, the screenwriter of Hidalgo, responded to criticism about the historical basis of the film. He had done research on Hopkins for years.
What happened to Aziz in the scramble?
Aziz dies in the scramble. However, Davenport and Katib try to sabotage the race by eliminating the rival riders. Davenport pays Katib to kill Hidalgo and steal Al-Hattal so her mare will win the race and she can breed her with the Sheikh's horse.
Who is the horse in the movie "The Horse"?
The real star of the movie, however, is TJ the horse as Hid algo. The horse demonstrates a winning personality that comes to the forefront especially in his relationship, friendship even, with Hopkins. A fine intelligence and determination is apparent in his eyes, and these qualities make it easy to root for the little horse to win the big race.
What is the real interloper in the desert?
Once they arrive in the desert, Hopkins is continually called an “infidel,” but the real interloper is Hidalgo, a mixed-blood mustang in a field of thoroughbred Arabian horses whose bloodlines could be traced back for centuries. Although Hopkins cares little for his own heritage or self-worth, he allows no one to question the value of his horse. He faces the disdain and treachery of his fellow riders with humor but is willing to come to blows for the honor of the mustang. Hidalgo, whose name is the Spanish word for nobleman, lives up to his billing, showing courage and heart even when his rider’s resolve wavers.
Is Hidalgo a real story?
Set in 1890, “Hidalgo” is the real-life story of Frank T. Hopkins, an army courier who, teamed with his horse Hidalgo, is known as the best long-distance rider in the American West. After carrying the orders that lead to the massacre of the Sioux at Wounded Knee, Hopkins takes a job in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show where he spends more time drunk than sober.
Is the movie Desert well done?
Apart from an over-reliance on cowboy-and-horse-silhouetted-against-the-sun shots, the cinematography is well done, especially in the desert sequences. A scene in which Hidalgo and Hopkins must outrace a sandstorm is particularly spectacular.
Who is the rider in the movie Hidalgo?
Hidalgo tells the legend of one-time Pony Express rider Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen, center) and his mustang, Hidalgo, competing against the world’s finest Arabian stallions in what the movie claims was the greatest endurance race ever run: the Ocean of Fire—a 3,000-mile race across the Arabian Desert.
Who wrote the script for Hidalgo?
Noted screenwriter John Fusco has penned the script for Hidalgo, the legend of Frank Hopkins and his mustang, Hidalgo. Viggo Mortensen ( Lord of the Rings) plays Hopkins, portrayed as one of the greatest long riders in equestrian history—his claim to fame was supposedly arriving 13 days early in a monthlong race from Galveston, Texas, ...
Did historians track Hopkins' life?
So were historians in places where Hopkins’ races supposedly started or ended, both here and abroad; so were officials who specialize in Buffalo Bill; so were historians trying to track Hopkins’ life. None came up with anything to substantiate the Hopkins story.
Overview
Hidalgo is a 2004 epic biographical western film based on the legend of the American distance rider Frank Hopkins and his mustang Hidalgo. It recounts Hopkins' racing his horse in Arabia in 1891 against Bedouins riding pure-blooded Arabian horses. The movie was written by John Fusco and directed by Joe Johnston. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Zuleikha Robinson, and Omar Sharif.
Plot
In 1890, Frank T. Hopkins and his mustang, Hidalgo, are part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, advertised as "the world's greatest endurance horse and rider." A famous long-distance racer, cowboy, and dispatch rider for the United States government, Hopkins is plagued by guilt for having carried a message to the 7th Cavalry Regiment authorizing the Wounded Knee Massacre of Lakota Sioux. He translates a futile request from another performer, Chief Eagle Horn, for Bill to …
Cast
• Viggo Mortensen as Frank Hopkins, a noted long-distance rider.
• Zuleikha Robinson as Jazira, determined daughter of the Sheikh.
• Omar Sharif as Sheikh Riyadh, an insightful leader. He owns and breeds Arabian horses of the Al Khamsa bloodline.
Production
Actor Viggo Mortensen, who is fluent in Spanish, voiced his own character (Frank Hopkins) in the Spanish dubs of the film.
Fact and fiction
The Native American historian Vine Deloria questioned Hopkins' claims of Lakota ancestry, as presented uncritically in the film.
But, Nakota filmmaker Angelique Midthunder said during the controversy that "the story of the half Indian who took his pinto mustang across the sea to race in the big desert has been told to children of the northern plains tribes for generations." Lakota elder Sonny Richards writes, "Kaiyu…
Horses
Several American Paint horses were used to portray Hidalgo. The actor Viggo Mortensen later bought RH Tecontender, one of the horses used in the film. The screenwriter John Fusco bought Oscar, the main stunt horse, and retired him at Red Road Farm, his American Indian horse conservancy. Another one was bought by a ranch near Steamboat, Colorado.
Reception
The movie received mixed reviews from mainstream critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 46% based on reviews from 164 critics. The critical consensus reads, "The scenery looks great, but this overstuffed horse story contains too much cheese". Metacritic gives the film a weighted average score of 54/100 based on reviews from 36 critics.
Roger Ebert offered a positive review of the film (three out of four stars), saying it's "Bold, exuber…
Accolades
John Fusco won the Spur Award for Best Western Drama Script; although most of the plot of Hidalgo was not set in the American West, it featured an American cowboy figure.