The Littlest Horse Thieves

The Littlest Horse Thieves (British title: Escape from the Dark) is a 1976 family drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions, directed by Charles Jarrott and starring Alastair Sim (in his final theatrical film), Peter Barkworth and Maurice Colbourne.^[1] In the United States, it was released on a double bill with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on March 11, 1977.^[2] The film was released in the United Kingdom on May 26, 1976, under the title Escape from the Dark.

Escape from the Dark (The Littlest Horse Thieves)
UK quad poster
Directed by	Charles Jarrott
Written by	Rosemary Anne Sisson
Story by	Burt Kennedy Rosemary Anne Sisson
Produced by	Ron Miller
Starring	Alastair Sim Peter Barkworth Maurice Colbourne Susan Tebbs Andrew Harrison Chloe Franks
Cinematography	Paul Beeson
Edited by	Richard Marden
Music by	Ron Goodwin
Production company	Walt Disney Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release dates	May 26, 1976 (1976-05-26) (UK) March 11, 1977 (1977-03-11) (US)
Running time	104 minutes
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English

Plot

Set in 1909 in Yorkshire, England, a coal mine has long relied on pit ponies to transport coal. When the mine introduces machinery to increase production and profitability, the ponies are deemed obsolete and slated for slaughter. Upon learning of this, three children—Dave (Andrew Harrison), Tommy (Benjie Bolgar), and Alice (Chloe Franks)—devise a plan to rescue the ponies and release them.

Cast

• Alastair Sim as Lord Harrogate
• Peter Barkworth as Richard Sandman
• Maurice Colbourne as Luke Armstrong
• Susan Tebbs as Violet Armstrong
• Andrew Harrison as Dave Sadler
• Chloe Franks as Alice Sandman
• Benjie Bolgar as Tommy Sadler
• Prunella Scales as Mrs. Sandman
• Leslie Sands as Foreman Sam Carter
• Joe Gladwin as Bert
• Jeremy Bulloch as Ginger
• Rich Moore as crying baby

Locations

Filming took place in 1975 around North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire such as Arkengarthdale, Langthwaite, Ripley Castle and Oakworth railway station, and also at Thorpe Hesley pit in South Yorkshire.

A day was also spent, on November 4, 1975, filming in Telford at Blists Hill Museum's restored pit winding-engine room.

Home media

The film was released on VHS as Escape from the Dark (UK) and The Littlest Horse Thieves (US) by Walt Disney Home Video in the 1980s.

In June 1999, Anchor Bay Entertainment released the film on DVD for the first time in widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio and full-frame presentation without bonus features; Anchor Bay re-released the film on DVD on January 21, 2003, but only in full-frame presentation.

On July 28, 2009, The Littlest Horse Thieves was released by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment as a Disney Movie Club exclusive DVD, available only to club members for mail or online ordering.

See also

• List of films about horses