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Have you ever been skydiving or bungee jumping? How about horse diving? Would you jump off a 100-foot tower into a pool of water below—on horseback? The movie I'm talking about today is a story about a girl who did just that. Stay tuned to find out which one.

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Welcome to Family TV Uncovered, where I talk all about clean, family-friendly TV shows and movies that shaped my childhood. I'm your host, Jennifer, and today I'll be talking about the 90s feature film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. This movie is one of my favorites. And if you're a horse lover? You'll absolutely love it too.

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I don't recall seeing this film in the theater, but I remember watching it on TV and renting it many, many times from the video store. Remember those? Long before streaming. Good times. The movie stars Gabrielle Anwar, and I'll be bringing up another couple of movies with her later on. She plays Sonora Webster, and this film is based on her true story and a book called A Girl and Five Brave Horses. I'll link it in the show notes.

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There's so much I love about this film—the acting, the music, and of course, the horses. The music especially stuck with me. I always wanted the soundtrack. Back in the day, you had to buy the cassette or CD—I never got around to it, but I should. The story is set during the Great Depression, and it shows people struggling financially. Sonora and her sister are orphans living with their aunt, who is barely getting by and decides to give Sonora up to the state. But instead, Sonora runs away.

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Before she leaves, Sonora finds an ad for a "diving girl"—a performer who rides horses off high towers into water. She heads to the county fairgrounds to find Dr. Carver, who runs the show, played by Cliff Robertson (you might know him as Uncle Ben from the Spider-Man trilogy). At first, he rejects her—especially compared to Marie, the current star. But he ends up hiring Sonora as a stable hand. Eventually, she proves herself worthy of the dive.

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It's incredible to think this really happened. Diving on horseback from such a height—voluntarily—is wild. But it makes the film thrilling. There's also a sweet romance between Sonora and Dr. Carver's son. It's very gentle and wholesome. Their growing affection adds to the heart of the film without distracting from the core story.

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We also get to see Sonora train her horse and go through the intense, time-consuming work of becoming a diving girl. The film highlights commitment—if you want something in life, you have to go after it. The horse diving scenes are by far my favorite, especially with the music. It just adds this dramatic, cinematic element that really brings the film together.

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Disney did such a good job with this movie—back when they made more family-centered stories. Stories you could take your kids to see without worry. This is what I call classic Disney. My kids always ask, "Why don't they make movies like this anymore?" And honestly, I don't have a good answer. It makes me appreciate growing up when I did.

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Eventually, Sonora experiences a devastating injury that could have ended her career. Everyone tells her to rest and give up—but she doesn't. She retrains herself and pushes through, proving her strength and resilience. Gabrielle Anwar does an amazing job portraying Sonora's courage and commitment to her dream. It's inspiring, especially knowing it's based on a true story.

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This movie will make you ask: What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Maybe it's not horse diving, but we've all had moments where we had to push through adversity. Have you ever gone through something life-changing—and kept going even when others told you to quit? That's what Sonora's story is about.

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I've watched this movie so many times, and I let my kids watch it on their own. There's nothing I'd object to. It's great for family movie night. If you've never seen it, I highly recommend it. And if you have—did you grow up watching it? Have you shared it with your own kids? I'd love to hear what parts you loved most.

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You can stream Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken on YouTube Movies, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and Fandango (formerly Vudu.com). Lots of ways to watch—no excuses!

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Tune in next week for a new episode, where I answer this question: What breed of dog is number 40 on the AKC's popularity list and also the most recognizable dog in TV history? Hint: She's smart, loyal, and always comes when Timmy's in trouble.

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That's it for this episode of Family TV Uncovered. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review and share the show with your friends and family. Thanks again for listening—and I'll catch you in the next episode!