If frank hopkins is to be believed, he led one of the. The movie starts off with a frank hopkins and his horse, hidalgo, running a long distance race. Frank then battles racers and natural elements as they try to win the race. After hopkins delivers a dispatch that leads to the massacre of native americans at wounded knee, he starts drinking, stops racing, and gets a job re. Hopkins is best known for winning endurance races on his painted mustang horse, hidalgo. Foreword by professor david dary edited by cuchullaine and basha oreilly. The truth about hidalgo is frank hopkins a fraud or a true desert. Frank hopkins and hidalgo are challenged to a 3000 mile race across the arabian desert. Hidalgo and other stories by frank t hopkins, paperback. But doughty hopkins wears the clothes of the old west. In 2005, mortensen starred in david cronenberg s movie a history of violence as a family man revealed to have had an unsavory previous career. Hidalgo cowboy frank hopkins viggo mortensen and his mustang, hidalgo, became legends in the 1880s when they thundered across the great plains winning more than 400 endurance races.
Hopkins and his painted mustang, hidalgo, suffered over 60 days of torturous riding in 1890 to claim victory in. Buy hidalgo and other stories by frank t hopkins, in very good condition. At age 12, he began working as a dispatcher for the u. Feb 19, 2014 the most notable of the antagonists are the oreilly brothers. Biography of frank hopkins hidalgo 2004 discussion. Hopkins and hidalgo were part of this tradition and oreilly did not. Hopkins and hidalgo stand quietly, awaiting the ultimate endurance challenge. As soon as they would roll camera, tj the horse would do.
In hidalgo, also vaguely inspired by a true story, a cavalry scout and ace horseman called frank hopkins viggo mortensen witnesses the massacre of. Hopkins, with a comprehensive study by an international team of experts by frank t hopkins book 5 editions published between 2003 and 2004 in english. In 1890, a downandout cowboy and his horse travel to arabia to compete in a deadly cross desert horse race. Hidalgo is an actionadventure and one mans journey of personal redemption. Yet the 2004 film hidalgo starring viggo mortensen is advertised as being. This movie is based on the true story of a horse racer and his horse, hidalgo. Hidalgo by joe johnston joe johnston, viggo mortensen. Military as a sort of courierscout, and one day is given a packet of orders to carry to the 7th cavalry at wounded knee. Mar 05, 2004 its 1890, and former pony express rider frank t. In the movie, nate salsbury sponsors hopkins and his mustang hidalgo played by t. The long riders guild is writing to let you know that the film is actually based on a tissue of lies. In hidalgo, director joe johnson demanded that it was based on true story. Hopkins viggo mortensen, a dispatch courier for the pony express who unwittingly delivers orders for the native american. Hopkins viggo mortensen, center and his mustang, hidalgo, competing against the worlds finest arabian stallions in what the movie claims was the greatest endurance race ever run.
In 2004, mortensen starred as frank hopkins in hidalgo, the story of an exarmy courier who travels to arabia to compete with his horse, hidalgo, in a dangerous desert race for a contest prize. True american legends an equestrianmag exclusive article from the rocky roads of arabia to the fiery sands of syria, frank t. Sep 28, 2014 a touchstone pictures film, hidalgo stars viggo mortensen as buffalo bills wild west cast member and cowboy frank t. It became a hunt for the most elusive equestrian charlatan of all time. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading searching for the real frank t. Hopkins and is heavily annotated by 70 historians from 5 different countries. The 2004 movie is billed by disney, touchtone pictures, as based on a true story, but the only problem is, the stories were all based on his autobiography written. Hopkins 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay.
A touchstone pictures film, hidalgo stars viggo mortensen as buffalo bills wild west cast member and cowboy frank t. All in all, the slender, dauntless hopkins who developed his endurance riding ability carrying dispatch for such frontier generals as miles and crook, competed in 400 long distance rides. Hopkins has brought his plucky mustang, hidalgo, across the ocean to compete against the worlds finest arabian horses. This book contains an unprecedented study, undertaken by more than seventy experts in five countries, ranging from the curator of the buffalo bill museum to the former sultan of yemen. The 2004 movie is billed by disney, touchtone pictures, as based on a true story, but the only problem is, the stories were all based on his autobiography written by hopkins in the 1930s and 40s. Set in 1890, hidalgo tells the story of the legendary frank t. What the experts say about frank hopkins hopkins should have been awarded the worlds greatest liar award. With viggo mortensen, omar sharif, zuleikha robinson, louise lombard.
This book contains an unprecedented study, undertaken by more than seventy experts in five countries, ranging from the curator of the buffalo bill museum to the. It recounts hopkins racing his horse in arabia in 1891 against bedouins riding pureblooded arabian horses. In their book hidalgo and other stories by frank t. He delivered the fatal dispatch which led to the wounded knee massacre, an action which left many of his mothers people dead. Hopkins, they debunk many of franks stories of his life. It stars viggo mortensen, zuleikha robinson, and omar sharif. Hopkins played here by viggo mortensen, hidalgo takes place in 1890, by which time the former cavalry dispatch rider and champion endurance rider has been reduced to working in buffalo bills wild west show. Hidalgo and other stories by frank t hopkins, paperback barnes.
Hopkins and his painted mustang, hidalgo, suffered over 60 days of torturous riding in 1890 to claim victory in the greatest longdistance endurance race of the time. Hopkins first drew breath in texas or wyoming in 1865, the son of the sole survivor of the little big horn and a sioux chiefs daughter. Hopkins became a dispatch rider for the army and a. The walt disney studio is widely publicising its forthcoming movie, hidalgo, as based on the true story of frank hopkins, the greatest longdistance rider of all time. Hopkins has brought his plucky mustang, hidalgo, across the ocean to compete against the worlds finest arabian horses on their own ground. The movie was written by john fusco and directed by joe johnston. This book is a collections of letters and reminiscences by frank t. Hopkins is the author of hidalgo and other stories 2. Mar 01, 2004 hidalgo tells the legend of onetime pony express rider frank t.
Jan 03, 2004 hidalgo tells the true story of hero frank hopkins. Horsemen marveled at hidalgos perfect acts, his stature and intelligence. In 2004, walt disney released the film hidalgo, based on hopkins tall tales. Screenwriter john fusco has called the ocean of fire the super bowl of endurance racing. It might have been simply a swashbuckling indiana jonesstyle action flick, but disney stirred up several controversies. Meanwhile, breyer animal creations of pequannock, n.
Frank hopkins news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2015 learn how and when to. Hidalgo tells the true story of hero frank hopkins. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This book contains an unprecedented study, undertaken by more than seventy. Though the film hidalgo was based on hopkins purported story, his alleged exploits are most likely fictional. But no one from hollywood ever asked a single question about frank hopkins and hidalgo. The most notable of the antagonists are the oreilly brothers. A number of his stories have been disputed by historians, for example, that he had won more than 400 races. Hopkins, the greatest longdistance racer ever, faces in the rousing actionadventure hidalgo. As the race begins, some of the racers dont like hidalgo and frank. The pair recently edited and published an annotated version of hidalgo and other stories by frank t.
Aug 11, 2004 and that might have been the end of the trail for frank t. Hopkins horses from history book 2 kindle edition by ladendorf, janice, hopkins, frank. In 1890, courier frank hopkins viggo mortenson and his dappled mustang hidalgo were the undefeated champions of endurance riding competitions, races of hundreds, even thousands of miles. Discover the real man and horse who were the heroes of the movie, hidalgo. And thanks to the power of 2004 film hidalgos visual imagery, audience interest in the genre has once again been captured. Hidalgo is a 2004 epic biographical western film based on the legend of the american distance rider frank hopkins and his mustang hidalgo. This epic actionadventure is loosely based on their greatest race, the ocean of fire. In the book, the oreillys refute hopkins claims point by point, enlisting the. Apr 17, 2004 in hidalgo, also vaguely inspired by a true story, a cavalry scout and ace horseman called frank hopkins viggo mortensen witnesses the massacre of the sioux at wounded knee in 1890, takes to. Frank is having a victory drink in the saloon when a young army officer gives him orders to take to a high officer who is watching an indian reservation, wounded knee. A wealthy sheik omar sharif sees hopkins riding hidalgo in the wild west show and persuades him to enter a thousand. Hidalgo by joe johnston joe johnston, viggo mortensen, omar.
And the virtual shelves at feature a book on hidalgo written by r. Since the cowboy first pointed his gun in the great train robbery in 1903, western movies have entertained audiences the world over with their stories, landscapes and colourful cowboy characters. Purportedly based on the reallife exploits of one frank t. All around him, pale robes that shield the bedouins from dust, sand and heat swirl like butterflies. Plot summary for hidalgo 2004, plus mistakes, quotes, trivia and more. The truth about hidalgo is frank hopkins a fraud or a true desert cowboy. Hopkins the book hollywood doesnt want you to read. Hidalgo and other stories by frank t hopkins used very. Hopkinsviggo mortensens character from the true movie hidalgo is a complete fraud.
With viggo mortensen, zuleikha robinson, omar sharif. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the us. Based on a true story and starring viggo mortensen the lord of the rings trilogy, hopkins mortensen and his mustang hidalgo enter the ultimate extreme sport of its time the ocean of fire. Hopkins, with a comprehensive study by an international team of experts by frank t hopkins book 5 editions published between 2003 and 2004 in. The arabian folks dont think that frank hopkins is the greatest rider ever. However when i tried to look into the life of frank hopkins, i found his life is full of mystries and the whole story of his race in arabia is very much disputed. Apparently, you have to win this race called the ocean of fire to have that title. Hidalgo, name of a fictional country in central america in the doc savage stories other uses edit hidalgo film, a 2004 film based on the legend of the american distance rider frank hopkins and his. These are just a few of the astonishing obstacles frank t.
Hopkins, with a comprehensive study by an international team of experts hidalgo. Hidalgo is a highly entertaining movie starring viggo mortensen as 1890s long distance horse racer, frank hopkins. Hopkins life and the story of the race in arabia were the inspiration for the 2004 film hidalgo, written by john fusco, directed by joe johnston, and starring viggo mortensen. With all due respect, he hasnt seen the movie this paper was a brief discussion involving a small sampling of the hidalgo public interviews and responses to each side of the debate about authentic research, recreation, and historical events. Buy a cheap copy of hidalgo and other stories book by frank t. Frank hopkins and hidalgo buffalo bill center of the west. Hopkins august 11, 1865 november 5, 1951 was an american professional. So if you want a book about hidalgo dont buy this one. The truth behind the history of disneys hidalgo seems as. Hidalgo tells the legend of onetime pony express rider frank t. If frank hopkins is to be believed, he led one of the most exciting, challenging and colorful albeit unrecorded lives in the late nineteenth. If you want a book that trashes frank hopkins writings put together by some really mean spirited folks who seem to have an ax to grind this is the book for you. Frank hopkins is interred in lutheran all faiths cemetery in middle village, queens county, new york. A mixture of indiana jones and lawrence of arabia seasoned with oldfashioned horse opera, this stirring adventure movie falls just short of classic.
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