Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken

Plot synopsis:
Sonora Webster is living with her emotionally abusive aunt during the Great Depression. Sonora learns that because of the family's financial difficulties, her treasured horse Lightning will be sold and she will be placed in an orphanage. Instead, Sonora slips out of the house during the night.
Sonora ends up at a county fair and sees a performance by Marie, a diving girl, as she jumps onto a horse as it runs up a steep platform just before it leaps off into a pool of water. Sonora then informs Doc Carver, Marie's employer, that she is his new diving girl, and Doc tells her she is too young.
Doc sees Sonora's talent with horses and give her a job as a stable hand, and she begins traveling with them. Doc's son Al wins a wild horse in a card game, and believes his father will give her a chance to train as a diving girl if she can tame it. She surprises Doc one day by riding up on it and he promises she can train to be a diving girl if she can mount it while it's moving. After multiple attempts, she finally succeeds and Doc keeps his promise, much to the chagrin of Marie.
One day, Marie falls and dislocates her shoulder, leaving her unable to perform, and Sonora has to step in. Although she has never dived with Lightning, Sonora is successful at her first jump. Marie is so jealous that she makes unreasonable demands of Doc to ensure her stardom status, and after he refuses them, she quits the show rather than share billing with Sonora.
Al and his father have always had a difficult relationship, which isn't helped by his burgeoning romance with Sonora, and one day he leaves after having a particularly bad fight with him. He and Sonora are close and he promises to write her. He does write but Doc hides his letters. Doc and the new stable hand Clifford leave the farm in search of work, and that night Lightning falls ill. Sonora spends the night with Lighning and is awakened by Al, who has returned. It seems Lightning ate some moldy hay and has developed colic. Al and Sonora work together to heal Lightning. Doc returns with the news there is no more work to be had and announce that the show is over.
Al asks Sonora why she never wrote him, and she tells him that she never received any letters from him. Both are confused over the missing letters. Al announces he has arranged a six-month contract with the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey to perform. The good news seems to patch up old differences between Doc and Al. Doc passes away en route to Atlantic City, apparently from a heart attack. Al assumes his father's role as show presenter. On his first day, he is extremely nervous, so Sonora finds Doc's famous fringed jacket to give Al confidence. In it she also finds one of Al's old letters, confessing his love for her. She lets him know she feels the same.
Al and Sonora perform at Atlantic City in front of their largest audience. As she is climbing the ladder, he proposes to her. She accepts and gets ready to do the jump. The horse, a jittery stallion who is not her usual partner Lightning, is anxious because of all the noise from the band and the crowd, and just before the jump a cymbal crashes loudly, which causes him to falter and trip. Sonora keeps her eyes open as they fall into the water. Both of them make it, but her vision is impaired, yet she hides this from Al. The next day when she wakes up, Sonora discovers she can't see. A doctor diagnoses detached retinas in both eyes and tells her she is permanently blind. In order to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit, Al must find another diving girl within a week, and calls Marie, who returns.
Clifford has been working on his "new" motorcycle and gets it back in working condition. He demonstrates his new act for a small crowd - it is an enormous metal ball in which he rides around inside on the motorcycle, doing loop after loop. The crowd is amazed and he is pleased with his new "death-defying" act.
Meanwhile, Sonora misses diving terribly, and feels utterly helpless and like a burden. She tells him of her desires to dive again, and indicates her unique bond with Lightning. She and Al work together to try to train her to mount him again, much the same way she and Doc once worked together earlier to train her to do so in motion. She is stubborn and refuses to give up, but Al forces her to accept the fact that it is impossible. She spends some quiet time with Lightning that night.
The next day, with the help of Clifford, Marie is locked in her dressing room. Sonora climbs the platform as Clifford releases Lightning and the horse trots up to Sonora. Al is scared for her and shouts at her to come back down, but she continues and the jump is successful. Her voice-over tells us that she continued diving for eleven more years with the audience never learning of her blindness, and about her happy marriage to Al.

Tags: romantic, depressing

Review:
My absolute favorite movie of all time.
Getting back to the movie, I feel so connected to the characters every time I watch it.
While some people like it because of the horses, or because of the moral of the story, I just like the movie itself!
I admire every aspect of it: the casting, filming, the set, and the true romance that is illustrated between Al and Sonora.
I also greatly enjoyed the songs on the soundtrack, which are pretty much impossible to find anywhere else.Although it's a twelve-year old movie, (that in itself makes me sad) it lives on through the heads and hearts of the  people who continue to watch it again and again, like myself.
I watched this movie as a teen and would not hesitate to show it to my family.
This is a sweet movie about overcoming adversity and realizing your dreams, and does not pander to the juvenile tastes that prevail in many family movies today.Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken has intelligent, thoughtful dialogue, and addresses some of our deeper fears, i.e. losing family, not being wanted, and other problems that Sonora encounters throughout the movie.
Sonora also has a romantic interest that is played out in a very family-oriented way, not full of the bawdy humor that current moviemakers feel is necessary, even in children's movies.On the negative side, most of the time you are rooting for Sonora, and at other times her abrasive "I can do it myself" attitude can be somewhat annoying, but I guess that's what made her a star!.
Great Movie--a favorite.
It is a sweet story and Michael Schoeffling (playing Al Carver) is one of my favorite actors.
I love horses and watching them dive is pretty phenomenal.
I don't know how close it is to the true story, but it'sfascinating to watch Sonora (played by Gabrielle Anwar) overcome suchtremendous obstacles.
It is a safe movie to show any child and most girls will like it if only because of the horses.
Based on a true story, this film is not only entertaining, but as inspirational as they come; a paean to the indomitability of the human spirit in the face of the kind of adversity that would make most of us simply roll over and quit.
It's a film that should be required viewing for anyone who has ever cried out that the world owes them a living, because the message of `Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken,' directed by Steve Miner, is that `Life' isn't fair, but when the worst happens you have to pick yourself up by the bootstraps and get on with it; nobody's going to do it for you.
There's a very definite lesson to be learned from this story; a lesson of which many living in the world today would be well advised to take note.In 1932, the Great Depression is on, but times are even more trying for teenager Sonora Webster (Gabrielle Anwar), who after losing her parents is taken in by her aunt, only to be told that because of financial difficulties besetting her own family, Sonora must be given over to the state.
She packs a bag and runs off to answer an ad placed in the newspaper by a certain Doctor Carver (Cliff Robertson), a showman looking for able young ladies to train as `diving girls' for his show.
As part of a traveling circus, Doctor Carver currently has only one diving girl, Marie (Kathleen York); the act entails diving a horse off a forty foot tower into a pool of water.
What he doesn't know is that he's just hired a girl who refuses to give up on something once she's set her mind to it, and when Sonora takes the job, it puts a hay fork in her hand, but her determined eye is on a horse, as well as that forty foot tower looming above that pool of water, beckoning to her, even as a dream borne on the wings of desire.
Up on the top of the world.Working from a screenplay by Matt Williams and Oley Sassone, Miner delivers a poignant film that works at the heart strings, but at the same time circumvents any undo sentimentality.
But to be known as a victim would have been the last thing in the world the real Sonora Webster would have wanted; indeed, she took the lemons life handed her and made the proverbial lemonade, refusing to be a `victim' in any sense of the word.
They have taken some license as far as certain dates and specific lengths of time involved, and certain elements are compacted in order to move the story along; but the important thing is, the essential elements of Sonora's life and her incredible achievements are portrayed accurately.Young Gabrielle Anwar gives a performance in which she perfectly captures Sonora's spirit and the stubbornness that refused to allow her to give in to any and all of the obstacles life put in her path.
Through Anwar's portrayal, we see a girl who overcomes the most heartbreaking situations by always looking forward; a true individual who always sees the glass as half full rather than half empty, and it's Anwar who makes that vital connection with the audience happen.
Most importantly, Robertson is convincing, and it makes the flamboyant Doctor Carver very real.The one weakness of the film is in the performance of Michael Schoeffling as Al, Doctor Carver's son.
I didn't think this was as good as hyped at the time of its release, but it was still a nice, old-fashioned film and Gabrielle Anwar as "Sonora Webster" was a pleasure to watch.
I'm sorry she never developed into a major star, although she's stayed busy in her acting career.This is a based-on-a true story and if a woman really performed diving horse acts while blind, well, that is incredible.
As i watch Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken i felt deeply touched by it's plot and fell in love with the movie.
All people compliment each other great, and i find something different about each one every time i watch it.
This movie has gotten me through some hard time by just realizing that if you are given a bad situation, it's up to you to decide how you are going to handle it..
Gabrielle Anwar is the best person for the part, the horses are great and whoever said that Michael Schoeffling can't act is CRAZY!!!!
I saw this movie when I was in third grade or so, and it was a favorite for a long  time.
You get gripped quickly by Sonora's stubbornness and determination to become a diving girl.
The increasing drama of the latter part of the film would probably be too  much to take for anyone past 14 or so, but before that age it's a great movie..
I do not know how many times I watched this movie.
Gabrielle Anwar who plays Sonora a runaway is desperately to make her dreams true as a driving girl.
This movie is the reason I love horses!
I would never have loved horses if it weren't for this movie.
If you only see one movie in your entire life please let it be Wild Hearts Can't be Broken!
One of my favorite movies of all time, as a child and adult.
Heartwarming, heartbreaking, great acting, emotional, and this movie has it all.
Good, clean movies are hard to come by these days.
It was quite an adventurous story, about a daredevil woman who rides horses off of high dives.
However, an accident involving one of the horse falling off a very high platform changes her life forever.It was a somewhat entertaining, dramatic and adventurous movie from what I remember, with some good acting and a good story-line with achieving one's goals.It's also quite a nostalgic film that reminds you of the old days (as it is set during the Great Depression).
Sonora Webster (Gabrielle Anwar) is a head-strong orphan in Waycross, Georgia living with her younger sister under her aunt.
She runs away to ride the diving horse for Dr Carver (Cliff Robertson) in his carnival act.
Al helps Sonora to tame a new wild horse.This movie has the feel of a well-made TV movie.
This didn't, however, impact one jot my enjoyment of this rousing tale of a spirited small town girl who breaks free from her humdrum life to live out her dream as someone who jumps off a diving board on horseback into a pool of water(!) Yes, I know it sounds daft, but we're talking about the 30's here...
It's one of the more polished Disney live-action films I've seen, and is well worth your time...
This movie touched my heart when I saw it and I can't wait to watch it again after reading the review that talked of its complexities.
When I learned Disney was going to make this film, I was excited because I heard there were once diving horses.
After watching this film for about the 20th time (by myself, or with my kids) it was then only after reading the credits that I learned that the gray horse was played by two different horses and myself and my good eyes for horses could not pick that out.
This is the best equine continuity job I've ever seen in a film (where more than one horse was used for the same horse).
1st watched 9/23/2010 -- 3 out of 10 (Dir-Steve Miner): Mediocre story with bad direction from Steve Miner makes what could have been interesting --- pretty dull.
This true story is about a young girl from the depression era who is kicked out of her aunt's house, runs away, and dreams of eventually getting to Atlantic City and being a diver of horses(really, I'm not making this up).
She has a love of horses and sees an ad for this position and has no idea what it is or what it takes to be this, but because of her current position she would rather be anywhere else and welcomes what looks like an adventure.
Gabrielle Anwar, who plays the girl, is cute but there has to be more in a movie than just looking at a pretty girl.
She does get to Atlantic City with the show and dives but then suffers an accident that blinds her(this occurs late in the movie).
She then has to work back into doing what she loves best while carrying her affliction(which makes the movie kind of Rockyesque).
The story just doesn't have enough heart to carry it through, and the filmmaking is not good enough to make it watchable.
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken is a wonderful movie that deserves to be watched.
It always feels fresh and new, like I'm discovering it all over again every time I watch it.I love the cinematography in this movie.
The actors play each scene deliberately and with purpose, giving you a real sense of what it must've been to live in the Depression era.This movie is perfect for all ages.
Amazing Girl and her horse story!.
This movie is a typical Girl and her Horse tale (no pun intended), but it's one that has more heart and realism than any movie of it's kind.
It's a perfect family movie, something you should feel good about showing your kids and can enjoy yourself...
(You'll understand when you see it) also, it doesn't completely focus on the horses, they remain in the backdrop while the entire movie focuses on this girl and her love story with a really attractive young man.
My dad rented this movie for me when I was little because it had horses in it, so he knew I would love it (which is true).
I will admit, it is kind of sappy at some points, but all-in-all it is such a great movie about overcoming almost impossible odds by being totally stubborn.
As I've grown older, I grown to really connect with this movie because, like Sonora, I am incredibly stubborn.
When I was a little girl, this was one movie that got played over and over.
To me, this film portrays an unconditional love, the kind girls wish they could all find, but seldom do.
This movie was added to my favorites list at the age of 8 because it showed someone who wasn't afraid to dream and had the courage to make that dream come true.
This shows a girl who gets the chance in life to do something many of us can't, live her dream.
The acting was overthetop great acting with stand outs (of course the lead) Gabrielle Anwar, whom I have to say made the perfect Senora, and Michael Schoeffling, whom I would like to see some more of in the future (and not just because i enjoy watching him, he's so fine, for a guy who played a senior in high school the year I was born) not only does the guy look good, but he can't act.
The Perfect Movie For ANYONE Who's Ever Had A Dream!.
If you've ever had a dream this is the movie for you!It's perfectly cast with Oscar worthy performances.Gabrielle Anwar gives the best performance of them all.Gabrielle Anwar is Sonora Webster, an orphan in the depression who lives with her aunt and younger sister.
Sonora has a dream of making it to Atlantic City and knows that if she gets turned over to the state her dream will never come true.
She gets a job with the man who runs the diving girl act as a stable hand.
Can she continue living out her dream even though she is blind?This is one of my all time top favorites!
Drama, Comedy, Romance, Suspense, and perfect for the whole family and is based on a true story!You will not regret seeing this movie!
This is not a bad film and for what I think of as a TV movie this is no where near as bad as some of the dross I have endured.
Yes this is family fair but for me if you want a good movie for all the family there are hundred of better options than this.
The premise of the movie is the story of lead character 'Sonora' who runs away to join the travelling carnival and eventually becomes part of a horse diving act (it is frightening that this stuff actually was classed as entertainment), and how she overcomes the many obstacles and tragedies in her path.
Absolute schmaltz, this movie is the core of many girl-nights and sleepovers from my youth.
I think Gabrielle Anwar is talented in her subtlety, even though this movie is so Disney, so superficial and sugary.
Red-headed carnival boy (plays role of "Clifford") is pretty good too.It's nice, it's family-friendly...take it to entertain some young girls while babysitting or something.I cannot believe they make us write these things to ten lines.
Absolute schmaltz, this movie is the core of many girl-nights and
"Clifford") is pretty good too.It's nice, it's family-friendly...take it to entertain some young girls
For those who may wonder, you're getting into a movie where the best acting comes from the horses, where the writing is about TV-movie quality if not a little worse, where the good characters are flawless and the bad ones are irredeemable...
Based on a true story, this movie can't help but lift your spirits and make you believe in life.It's worth owning in your video library.Goes on my top 10 favorites movies.
Her aunt decides she doesn't want Sonora any more, so Sonora runs away and attempts to join a horse diving show.
I see this as a family movie, with only minimal violence (of the type to be expected with tough characters living in hard times), and nothing really that would bother parents.
I thought it would ruin the movie for me when Sonora went blind after an accident.
This is one of the best feel good, and tenderly romantic movies I've seen.
One thing led to another, including the passing away of the owner of the show Doc Carver, played by Cliff Robertson, while they were on their way to Atlantic City to do a show.It was in Atlantic City where tragedy, as well as what some might call a miracle took place, as also did the wedding of Sonora, and Al Carver, the son of the deceased owner of the show You'll have to watch the movie to find out more, I told you more than I should have already..
I loved horses as a young girl (and still do) but they are only part of the story.
The determination of the orphan Sonora Webster, to achieve her dream, is inspiring and extremely entertaining.
The actors, costumes, scenery, music were all excellent, and the sweet love story between Sonora and Al Carver is subtly and gently captured on film, without relying on melodrama.
Kathleen York as the snobby, high-society diving girl Marie, provides tremendous comic relief, along with Gabrielle Anwar and Cliff Robertson as the crusty Dr. Carver.
It is a great family film and should be shared with everyone.
This film starting Gabrielle Anwar , one of the most beautiful women the world is definitely a must see.Anwar as the late Sinora Webster gave a great performance shows in fact that "Wild Hearts can't be broken".
She was a woman who took challenges head on, with great courage she battle all of the obstacles thrown against her, and in spite of her eventual blindness she continued her performance against the odds.She Webster(as played by Anwar) gave the performance of a lifetime, and proved that the determination of the spirit can overcome a handicap.
The lovely Gabrielle Anwar plays Sonora Webster the typical girl whose lost her parents and has discipline problems.
Anyway this movie is fast paced, but it gets a decent story across about a young girl who overcomes odds, at a time the odds are death threatening and makes her dreams come true.