The Tattooed Police Horse

This movie tries to tell a story, written by director Lansburgh's wife, Janet. It concerns Jolly Rogers, a horse bred and trained for trotting competition. Jolly, however, has a habit of breaking into a gallop in moments of stress. Things go from bad to worse, in a story like that of BLACK BEAUTY, until the animal winds up on the Boston Police Force, patrolling Scolley Square.

The movie is certainly competent in the behind-the-screen departments, but what goes on the screen is not terribly interesting to me. Trotting races are such an artificially constrained activity that I can't work up any enthusiasm for them. Although the sport is in decline, however, there are many people who enjoy it, so maybe the visuals will please them.

What I cannot abide, however, is vast majority of the actors. They seem unprofessional and few of them speak their lines in any convincing fashion. Although this brief second feature has a competent narrator in Ken Andes, the overall effect is not among Disney's best animal pictures.