Gallant Bess

Meet Bess, the gallant horse who earned World War II glory! Based on a real-life incident, this inspiring film tells the story of orphaned farm boy Tex Barton (Marshall Thompson), who leaves his beloved horse behind when he enlists in the Navy. Pneumonia claims the horse and Tex is heartbroken -- until he rescues an injured mare on a South Pacific island, a four-footed heroine who returns the favor by saving Tex and his Seabee buddies from a Japanese attack. Thompson's engaging rapport with his equine costar foretells his success in more animal-friendly fare: he portrayed African veterinarian Marsh Tracy in the hit movie Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion and its TV spinoff Daktari.

• family
• war