Escape from the Dark

Escape from the Dark (American title: The Littlest Horse Thieves) is a 1976 British-American family drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions, directed by Charles Jarrott and starring Alastair Sim (in his final film role), Peter Barkworth and Maurice Colbourne.

The film was released in the United Kingdom on May 26, 1976. In the United States, it was released under the title The Littlest Horse Thieves on a double bill with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh on March 11, 1977.

Plot
Set in 1909, a coal mine in Yorkshire, England has used pit ponies to haul coal for many years. When they are to be replaced by machinery that will speed up production and increase profits, three children – Dave (Andrew Harrison), Tommy (Benjie Bolgar) and Alice (Chloe Franks) – learn the ponies are to be slaughtered so they team up in a scheme to steal the horses and give them their freedom.

Home media
The film was released on VHS as Escape from the Dark (UK) and The Littlest Horse Thieves (US) by Walt Disney Home Video in the 1980s.

In June 1999, Anchor Bay Entertainment released the film on DVD for the first time in widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio and full-frame presentation without bonus features; Anchor Bay re-released the film on DVD on January 21, 2003 but only in full-frame presentation.

On July 28, 2009, The Littlest Horse Thieves was released by Walt Disney as a Disney Movie Club exclusive DVD, available only to club members for mail or online ordering.