Watch The Littlest Horse Thieves

Set against the beautiful backdrop of England's Lake District, The Littlest Horse Thieves tells the heartwarming story of a group of children and their efforts to save their beloved ponies from being sold to a cruel factory owner. The film focuses on the bond between the children and their four-legged friends, and their determination to stand up to the unfair treatment of their community's animals.

The movie opens with a shot of the idyllic countryside, where we meet the children of a small English village. Among them are brothers Charlie (played by Colin Penn) and Pinkie (played by Benjamin Smith), who work at a local stable owned by a stern and unsympathetic man named Mr. Seigfried (played by Alastair Sim). The boys are close with the animals in Seigfried's care, especially a group of Shetland ponies that they love to ride.

But when Seigfried decides to sell the ponies to a factory owner who plans to use them for their hides, the children are devastated. They soon learn that the factory owner has bribed Seigfried into the deal, and that their beloved ponies are now in grave danger. Refusing to sit idly by, the children band together to devise a plan to save their ponies from their fate.

Along the way, they receive help from a kindly farmer named Evans (played by Peter Barkworth) and his stable hand, Sam (played by Maurice Colbourne). Evans takes a liking to the children and their ponies, and offers to help them in their quest to stop the sale. Meanwhile, Sam teaches the children valuable horse-riding and trick-riding skills, which come in handy later in the film.

The children's plan involves staging a daring horserace through the Lake District, which they hope will raise enough money to buy back their ponies from Seigfried. But with the factory owner and Seigfried hot on their trail, the children must stay one step ahead and put all of their skills and courage to the test.

One of the strengths of The Littlest Horse Thieves is its ability to balance both the thrilling action and the genuine emotional depth of the story. The horserace scenes are exhilarating and expertly staged, with some impressive stunts performed by the young actors. But the movie also takes time to explore the relationships between the characters, and to show the deep bond that exists between the children and their ponies. The hardships they face together, and their triumphs, are equally moving.

The film is also noteworthy for its stunning location photography, which captures the rugged beauty of the Lake District in all its glory. The wide shots of the children and their ponies galloping across the fields, with the mountains looming in the background, are some of the most memorable in the movie.

The performances in The Littlest Horse Thieves are uniformly excellent, with the young actors bringing a naturalistic charm to their roles. Colin Penn and Benjamin Smith, as the brothers Charlie and Pinkie, have a sweet sibling chemistry that anchors the film. Alastair Sim, as the gruff stable owner, is suitably menacing, and Peter Barkworth and Maurice Colbourne provide strong support as the sympathetic farmer and his assistant, respectively.

Overall, The Littlest Horse Thieves is a delightful family film that will charm both children and adults. Its themes of friendship, courage, and love for animals are timeless, and the beautiful scenery and exciting action make it a treat for the eyes as well. Whether you're a horse lover or just a fan of heartwarming stories, this movie is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

The Littlest Horse Thieves is a 1977 kids & family movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.