"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken"

"Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" is a Disney movie based on the true story of a runaway orphan, Sonora Webster.  Sonora is played by Gabrielle Anwar (also starring in TV's "Burn Notice") and I believe this may have been one of her first roles.

After Sonora's parents die, she and her younger sister are taken in by her mother's aunt but it's the depression and Sonora's attitude and the lack of money for food leads her aunt to the decision to place Sonora only in the care of the state.  Instead Sonora runs away to find Doc Carver's traveling show because she's seen his ad asking for a "diving girl" for a death defying stunt.  Sonora is sure she can do the job without even knowing what it is and she is determined.

Sonora finds the show but is turned away by Doc Carver.  However, as I said, she is persistent and she finally gets a job mucking out stables with the show.  When she comes to the attention of Doc's gambling son, he takes a shine to her and together they secretly train a horse that he won in a poker game.  Doc thinks the horse is untrainable but they prove otherwise and Sonora shows Doc that she can be a "diving girl" and, in fact, steals the show.  However, a tragedy threatens to keep her from performing but it appears nothing can keep Sonora down for long.  This is a very heartwarming story.  pazt