Moon Stallion, The (BBC-1 1977, Sarah Sutton, David Haig)

In fantasy drama serial The Moon Stallion a young blind girl, Diana Mortenhurze (Sarah Sutton), has a telepathic link to ancient forces conducted through a chalk horse in Wiltshire.

In a Timescreen interview Sarah Sutton had this to say about the production…“Dorothea Brooking directed, and she picked me out of a group of other girls. And that was something like eleven weeks on location.” Where had the location work been? “Wiltshire, Uffington where the White Horse is.”….”I hadn’t ridden a horse for ages but I did have a few lessons, a few bareback lessons. I just went down to a local place to get going. And then I did ride Tabu, the horse. A wonderful horse, but he was very, very strong.

Especially for the night shots where he’d been in the horsebox all day and was raring to go. For the galloping shots and everything it was a double with a wig on because there was no way I’d get on that horse!”

Cast: Sarah Sutton as Diana Purwell; David Haig as Todman; Caroline Goodall as Estelle; John Abineri

Writer: Brian Hayles / Music: Howard Blake / Camera: Ian Hilton / Costume Design: Judy Pepperdine / Production Design: Roger Cann / Horse Trainer: Richard Viner / Executive Producer: Anne Home / Director: Dorothea Brooking

UK / BBC One – Sudfunk Stuttgart / 6×25 minute episodes / Broadcast 15 November – 20 December 1978

THE EPISODES
1. ONE
Diana Mortenhurze, a young blind girl, discovers she has a connection with an ancient white horse called The Moon Stallion. A Professor Purwell arrives to stay with Diana’s father wanting to research King Arthur.
guest cast
PETER MORLEY as Sam

2. TWO
Diana is still seeing the Moon Stallion, her father becomes convinced that the horse was behind the death of his wife.
guest cast
RICHARD VINER as Dark Rider / PETER MORLEY as Sam

3. THREE
Sir George has plans to capture the Moon Stallion but Diana rides away on the horse.
guest cast
PETER MORLEY as Sam

4. FOUR
Diana has been taken by the horse to meet The Green King but Diana’s father in an attempt to capture the horse is killed.
guest cast
RICHARD VINER as Green King

5. FIVE
Sir Georges stablehand Todman plans revenge on Diana following the death of her father.

6. SIX
Todman has begun mustering ancient and evil forces but Diana calls upon the help of The Green King to bring matters to a final head.
guest cast
RICHARD VINER as Green King / PETER MORLEY as Sam