AllMovie

Vitagraph pumped up the human angle to bring Anna Sewell's immortal story to the screen while still remaining true to the book's spirit. Jack Beckett (George Webb) has stolen 800 pounds from Lord Wynwaring (Leslie T. Peacocks), and the only one who learns of the theft is George Gordon (Colin Kenny). George is killed during a fox hunt and Beckett tells his sister, Jessie (Jean Paige), that her brother took the money. To save her mother from the shock of having this information revealed, Jessie agrees to marry Beckett when she comes of age. Four years later a horse, Black Beauty, is bought by Jessie's father, Squire Gordon (John Steppling). The horse, with its almost human intelligence, saves both its master and his wife (Mollie McConnell). Beckett, meanwhile, is pressing Jessie to marry him, even though she has fallen in love with Harry Blomefield (James Morrison), the son of the vicar (Robert Bolder). Jessie is temporarily rescued from Beckett, and Black Beauty changes owners several times until he comes into possession of the Blomefields. Beckett plots to snatch Jessie from a train and marry her in London, but Harry rides Black Beauty to the station and beats him there. He saves Jenny from the wicked Beckett and Black Beauty has finally found a permanent home.