Horses fascinate me.

During a transcontinental family car trip and a visit at age 8 to a Cheyenne, Wyo., dude ranch, we rode trail horses. My dad took a photo of my sister, Alice, and me with the bowed-legged cowboy guide. “Why are his legs like that?” I asked.

In third grade at Lanark Elementary School, I had a crush on Sonja Meyer, who lived in Oakhurst, Upper Saucon Township. She wore a braided gold ponytail. She loved horses. I made pencil sketches of horses for her.

A framed colorized photo purchased on that family trip of a palomino at a rocky outcropping inspired a poem I wrote in college, “The Last Great Golden Palomino Ever.”

I watched The Kentucky Derby on television with my grandfather, Harvey Hartman, in the living room of my grandparents’ home in Fullerton. I took my mother, Ruth, to a restaurant for mint juleps to watch the Derby telecast. Years later, she and I watched the Derby on TV in the house.

And then there was the “Mr. Ed” TV show (1961-1966), with its refrain: ”A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course. That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed.”

“Oh, Wilbur,” indeed.

Among my favorite feature movies about horses are: “National Velvet” (1944), “Phar Lap” 1983, “The Horse Whisperer” (1998), “Sea Biscuit” (2003), “Secretariat” (2010) and “War Horse” (2011).

Add to my list the latest entry: ”Dream Horse.”

The film is based on a true story about Jan Vokes (Toni Collette), who persuades townspeople in Wales to invest in the breeding and training of a thoroughbred named Dream Alliance that went on run in the Welsh Grand National.

Director Euros Lyn (director, TV’s “Doctor Who,” 2005-2010) works from a screenplay by Neil McKay. The film is based on the documentary, “Dark Horse” (2015).

The film is anchored by a solid performance by Toni Collette (Oscar nominee, supporting actress, “The Sixth Sense,” 2000; TV’s “United States of Tara” (2009-2011); “About A Boy,” 2002; “The Hours,” 2002; “Muriel’s Wedding,” 1994) as Jan Vokes. Collette parlays a healthy confidence about Dream Alliance, the thoroughbred and the working-class folks backing it.

Excellent in supporting roles are Owen Teale (TV’s “Game of Thrones,” 2011-2016) as Jan’s husband Brian; Damian Lewis (TV’s “Homeland,” 2011-2014) as family friend and tax consultant, Howard, and a coterie of amusing character actors.

And there’s that lovely thoroughbred chestnut (actually, two horses are credited) as Dream Alliance.

The cinematography by Erik Wilson (director of photography, “Paddington 2,” 2017; Paddington,” 2014) is crisp for dialogue scenes, evocative for vistas of the Wales countryside and exciting for the horse racing (which is on grass turf and includes steeplechases).

“Dream Horse” has a nice cozy feeling, not unlike other films about tales of persons or a person from the United Kingdom overcoming the odds, among them, ”The Full Monty” (1997), ”The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain” (1995) and “Brassed Off” (1996).

Though the plot lines in these films may be far different, the folks in “Dream Horse” rise to the challenge, set aside their differences, and pull on a resounding reservoir of pluck, resolve and winning spirit. Hope takes a lot of work.

“Dream Horse” is a rousing, uplifting, old-fashioned movie that can be recommended for most of the family, and for fans of Toni Collette, fans of feature films about horse-racing and for horse-lovers.

“Dream Horse,”

MPAA Rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give “parental guidance.” May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.) for language and thematic elements; Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sports, Biography; Run Time: 1 hr., 53 min. Distributed by Bleecker Street Media.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

“Dream Horse” was filmed in Blaenavon, Torfaen and Rhymney, Caerphilly, both Gwent, Wales, and Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire, England. The credits include photos of the actual horse, Dream Alliance, and some of the actual people involved, including the Vokes. Also, actors and actual people sing a rousing version of Welsh native Tom Jones’ 1967 pop hit “Delilah.”

At The Movies:

“Dream Horse” was seen at the Movie Tavern, Trexlertown with COVID-19 protocol, including wearing face masks and social-distancing seating, in effect.

Movie Box Office:

May 28-30: “A Quiet Place Part II,” with its release postponed from its scheduled March 20, 2020, opening because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown, opened at No. 1 with pre-pandemic numbers, $47.5 million on 3,726 screens, besting “Cruella,” which opened at No. 2 with $21.4 million on 3,892 screens for the Memorial Day weekend.

“A Quiet Place Part II” took in $58.5 million for the four-day holiday weekend. It’s the biggest opening during the pandemic, surpassing “Godzilla vs. Kong,” which opened with $32 million in March.

It was the first weekend in more than a year when the United States box-office total passed $100 million.

3. “Raya and the Last Dragon” rose one place, $2.3 million, on 2,015 screens, $51.2 million, 13 weeks. 4. “Spiral” dropped three places from its two weeks at No. 1, with $2.2 million, on 2,641 screens, $19.7 million, three weeks. 5. “Wrath of Man” dropped three places, $2.1 million, on 2,607 screens; $22.1 million, four weeks. 6. “Godzilla vs. Kong” stayed in place, $885,000, on 1,815 screens; $97.7 million, nine weeks. 7. “Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train” dropped two places, $837,000, on 1,145 screens; $45.9 million, six weeks. 8. “Dream Horse” moved up one place, $639,636, on 1,254 screens, $1.7 million, two weeks. 9. “Those Who Wish Me Dead” dropped six places, $590,000, on 1,805 screens, $6.2 million, three weeks. 10. “Bo Gia,” $350,00, opening, on 20 screens, one week

36. “The War with Grandpa,” co-starring Allentown’s Oakes Fegley, dropped six places, $2,108, on 35 screens, $21.2 million, 34 weeks, the longest-running movie in the Top 40. “The Croods: A New Age” is the next longest-running, at 27 weeks.

Box office figures from Box Office Mojo as of May 30 are subject to change.

Unreel,

June 4:

“Spirit Untamed,”

PG: Elaine Bogan ad Ennio Torresan co-direct the voice talents of Isabel Merced, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, Julianne Moore, Eiza Gonzalez and Andre Braugher and the animation talent in the Adventure-Family film. A girl moves from the city to a small town where she befriends Spirit, a wild mustang.

“Samaritan,”

Julius Avery directs Sylvester Stallone and Dascha Polanco in the Action-Drama Fantasy film. A superhero thought to be missing is still around.

“Under the Stadium Lights,”

PG-13: Todd Randall directs Milo Gibson, Abigail Hawk, Acorye White and Laurence Fishburne in the Action-Drama Sports film. It’s based on a true story about the 2009 Abilene High School, Texas, football team.

“The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,”

R: Michael Chaves directs Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Steve Coulter and Ingrid Bisu in the Horror-Mystery Thriller. The Warrens investigate a murder believed to be caused by demonic possession.

“Gully,”

R: Nabil Eldlerkin directs Amber Heard, John Corbett, Terrence Howard, Robin Givens, Erica Peeples and Travis Scott in the Crime-Drama. Three teens run amok in a 48-hour crime spree in Los Angeles.

“Flashback,”

R: Christopher MacBride directs Dylan O’Brien, Maika Monroe, Amanda Brugel, Hannah Gross, Sima Fisher and Keir Gilchrist in the Drama-Thriller. After a chance encounter, a young man journeys into his past.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes