The Adventures of Black Beauty ( TV Series 1972 - 1974 )





 

Broadcast History

Two seasons were produced, the first airing from September 1972 to March 1973 and the second from September 1973 to March 1974. Although it was mainly aimed at children, it was shown in the Sunday teatime family timeslot and gained a wide audience, becoming popular enough to make the general Top 20 ratings. It was repeated regularly, although often on a regional basis, for many years, its last full repeat run being on Sunday mornings from 1986 to 1988. It also aired in the United States on Nickelodeon in the 1980s and Is currently shown on the Retro Television Network.



 

Plot

The series was not an adaptation of the book by Anna Sewell, but a "continuation" featuring new characters created by Ted Willis, most prominently Dr James Gordon, played by William Lucas, and his children Vicky, played by Judi Bowker (who became Jenny, played by Stacy Dorning, in the second series) and Kevin, played by Roderick Shaw. Other writers included David Butler and Richard Carpenter, while directors included Charles Crichton and Peter Duffell. The series, which was filmed mainly at Stockers Farm, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, was widely acclaimed for its high production values and quality of writing and acting, and at times had remarkable English gothic overtones for a children's series.

 

Episode Guide



Pilot

 

27/Jan/72    The Horse Healer



Season 1

 

1      1-01                23/Sep/72   The Fugitive
2      1-02                30/Sep/72   The Hostage
3      1-03                07/Oct/72   The Pit Pony
4      1-04                14/Oct/72   The Horse Thieves
5      1-05                21/Oct/72   Runaway
6      1-06                28/Oct/72   Warhorse
7      1-07                04/Nov/72   The Horsemen
8      1-08                11/Nov/72   The Duel
9      1-09                18/Nov/72   The Viking Helmet (1)
10     1-10                25/Nov/72   The Viking Helmet (2)
11     1-11                02/Dec/72   Day of Reckoning
12     1-12                09/Dec/72   Man Trap
13     1-13                23/Dec/72   Clown on Horseback
14     1-14                06/Dec/73   Three Lock to Fortune
15     1-15                01/Jan/73   Recruiting Sergeant
16     1-16                20/Jan/73   The Debt
18     1-18                03/Feb/73   The Witch
19     1-19                10/Feb/73   The Ponies
20     1-20                17/Feb/73   The Ruffians
21     1-21                24/Feb/73   Two of a Kind
22     1-22                03/Mar/73   Foul Play
23     1-23                10/Mar/73   Sailor on a Horse
24     1-24                17/Mar/73   Wild Justice
25     1-25                24/Mar/73   The Barge
26     1-26                31/Mar/73   Father and Son



Season 2

 

27     2-01                23/Sep/73   A Member of the Family (1)
28     2-02                30/Sep/73   A Member of the Family (2)
29     2-03                07/Oct/73   The Outcast
30     2-04                14/Oct/73   Good Neighbours
31     2-05                21/Oct/73   Mission of Mercy
32     2-06                28/Oct/73   Battle of Wills
33     2-07                04/Nov/73   The Medicine Man
34     2-08                11/Nov/73   Out of the Night
35     2-09                18/Nov/73   Panic
36     2-10                25/Nov/73   The Challenge
37     2-11                02/Dec/73   Pocket Money
38     2-12                09/Dec/73   The Quarry
39     2-13                16/Dec/73   Secret of Fear
40     2-14                23/Dec/73   Lost (1)
41     2-15                23/Dec/73   Lost (2)
42     2-16                30/Dec/73   Lost Godess
43     2-17                06/Jan/74   Where´s Jonah ?
44     2-18                20/Jan/74   The Horse Breaker
45     2-19                31/Jan/74   A Long Hard Run
46     2-20                03/Feb/74   Goodbye Beauty
47     2-21                10/Feb/74   The Escape
48     2-22                17/Feb/74   A Ribbon for Beauty
49     2-23                24/Feb/74   The Last Charge
50     2-24                03/Mar/74   Race against Time
51     2-25                10/Mar/74   Game of Chance
52     2-26                27/Mar/74   The Last Roundup