American Experience (TV Series) Seabiscuit (2003) User Reviews

A feel-good documentary

[BigAl-12 · 8/10 · 23 July 2003]

The book is a complex and in-depth look at a fabulous story. It is about a man and a horse who capture the imagination of a country. It also has a dark side, which is not brought out in the documentary. Still, this is better than the Hollywood version.

You gotta love horses....

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 14 March 2012]

The documentary does a good job not just in telling about Seabiscuit but also trying to create the story. Again and again, the viewer was manipulated into seeing this horse as a long-shot--a horse that had heart but by all rights should not have been that great a horse. After all, in early races, the horse lost them all AND the jockey assigned to him was a walking hard luck story--yet they managed to achieve greatness.

This is another well made episode of "The American Experience". However, how much you enjoy it may well depend on if you adore horses and horse racing. My wife loves horseback riding and got more out of it than me....I just wonder if horse tastes like beef! Now this isn't to say I disliked the show....I just didn't have a natural affinity to any show about horses. I still liked it...I just wasn't enthralled--and my wife was amazed that I didn't care all that much about the 'cute horsey'!

An emotionally moving film.

[haans_guetyn · 10/10 · 25 July 2003]

Being a documentray buff, I thought I would give this little documentary a chance. My wife is an equine fanatic and had abruptly purchased this film and brought it to the house. The film originally aired as a part of an ongoing PBS series called 'The American Experience.' I felt that the PBS flagship added some credibility to the project and went with it.

I was blown away. As you watch our beloved Seabiscuit go from obscurity, to national worship, you are mesmerized. I think it helped that I knew very little about his life going into the film.

Bottom line is that you will not be disappointed with the film. I was on the edge of my seat up until the glorious final race. The interviews are intelligent, the race footage has been restored in full glory here. Not only will the story move you, but the passion the economically destroyed American people felt towards Seabiscuit at the time will give you hope for our current trying times. 10 out of 10.

Greatly superior to the more recent fictionalized film.

[wfrost · 10/10 · 2 August 2003]

A well made documentary. Good editing of historical footage. Greatly superior to the more recent fictionalized film. May be seen on public television.

Breathtaking.

[algsmail · 10/10 · 8 May 2018]

Breathtaking. I never get tired of it. The suspense and anticipation never wane and the outcome, while probably never in doubt, satisfies to a crescendo of joy and warmth.