White Mane: A Boy and His Stallion

Saddle up for a poetic ride with White Mane, an enchanting archival film directed and penned by Albert Lamorisse, with an adaptation by Denys Colomb de Daunant and soulful narration by Frank Silvera, enriched by Maurice le Roux’s haunting score and James Agee’s poignant commentary. Filmed in the windswept flatlands near the River Rhône in southern France, this mid-century gem follows young Alain Emery, a boy captivated by the wild beauty of a stallion named White Mane. The horse—mane flowing like a banner of freedom—gallops untamed across the Camargue marshes, elusive as the mist. Undeterred, the boy pursues his dream, his small hands reaching through brambles and salt flats to earn the trust of this noble beast. The camera sweeps over their dance: hooves thunder against wet earth, eyes meet in quiet understanding, until the stallion yields, tamed by love. In a breathtaking finale, boy and horse ride off into the sea—waves crashing, horizon endless—a vision of unity etched in black-and-white splendor. Archival Moments revives this tender tale—subscribe to gallop through more from the plains of history!