Gallant Bess

Gallant Bess is a motion picture released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1946. It was loosely based on the true story of U.S. Navy Warrant Officer Arthur Parker's rescuing of an injured filly during World War II. Portions of the movie were filmed on the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in October 1945. This was the first MGM motion picture made in Cinecolor.

The horse, Bess, in the movie was portrayed by a pair of horses owned by The Hendricks twins, Lee and Byron, also known as "The Flying Twins". These horses were used interchangeably for close-ups and stunt tricks. Chico and Dixie later became one of the Roman teams that were shown nationwide during rodeo events. The Hendricks Twins were recognized by The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in their Hall of Fame in 2015 for their contribution to rodeo entertainment .

Plot

Art Parker grows up on a ranch in Montana in the early 1900s and has worked with horses. At the age of 17, he lies to enlist in the U.S. Navy. During World War II, he is stationed in the Solomon Islands and befriends a local rancher.