'Secretariat': An Underdog's Tale of Triumph through Faith, Courage
"Secretariat," based on a book written by William Nack, is in theaters now.
The film closely relates to the theme of such films as "When We Were Soldiers," "The Man in the Iron Mask," or" Pearl Harbor" in which stories of troubled lives and disadvantages overcome by fearless determination and assurance are played out.
All of the films were written by songwriter, screenwriter, producer, and director Randall Wallace.
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Most famously known for his 1995 film "Braveheart," which landed him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, Wallace has added "Secretariat" to the list of inspirational films on his resume.
A graduate of Duke University as a seminary student, he moved to Hollywood and began writing short stories, novels and scripts for movies and television shows. Wallace admits the influence for the film is mostly rooted in his Christian beliefs. Wallace expressed to HollywoodJesus.com his admiration for how Jesus told stories.
"Jesus didn't argue doctrinal questions whenever he was asked a question," Wallace said. "He almost always responded with story because the stories carry more truth than our philosophical arguments do."
"Secretariat" captures Christian audiences with its David and Goliath theme. Starring Academy Award winning actress Diana Lane, who stars as Penny Chenery, a Denver housewife who in the 1970s elbowed her way into the man's world of horse racing to save her ailing father's Virginia farm. Against all odds, Chenery, with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown win in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.
"Secretariat" is based on the book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion. The film opened third at the box office the weekend of Oct. 8 and continues to draw a steady crowd.
