Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) was a real guy, and Hidalgo was a real horse. Supposedly, they never lost a long-distance race in the U.S., prompting them to head for the Middle East around 1890 ...

Just about every shot is a beauty shot in "Hidalgo," an Arabian days adventure ... but I'm going to have to ask you not to talk about my horse that way." The line is a nice one, and Mr. Mortensen ...