Barnes & Noble

One of the great boy-and-his-dog yarns, this Disney classic has moved generations of children and adults to tears with its legendary conclusion. The story, based on a novel by Fredrick B. Gipson, concerns a frontier lad (Tommy Kirk) who develops a kinship with a stray mutt as he attempts to carry out his absent father's responsibilities. The horror of rabies and the vulnerability of a mother and two young boys living alone on a remote homestead lend a hint of darkness to this otherwise buoyant coming-of-age tale. Veteran performers Fess Parker and Dorothy McGuire acquit themselves nicely as the loving parents (particularly the delicate McGuire), but the kids carry the film. Future teen idol Kirk was at his most endearing here, cute without being cloying, and convincing as a child forced to accept an adult role for which he is not sure he's ready. And, of course, there is Old Yeller himself. One of the screen's most charismatic canines, he cocks his head and fights bears in a manner that will forever win the hearts of young viewers. Amy Robinson

All Movie Guide

Based on the novel by Fred Gipson, the story is set in Texas in 1869. While his father is away on a cattle drive, 15-year-old Tommy Kirk takes over management of the family farm. Adopting a "strictly business" policy, Kirk is irritated when younger brother Moochie Corcoran adopts a frisky stray dog. But soon Kirk is as fond of the dog as everyone else in the family; moreover, "Old Yeller" is an excellent watchdog. But while fighting off a mad wolf, Yeller is infected with rabies. Though Yeller seems unaffected at first, he eventually behaves so viciously that the disheartened Kirk has no choice but to shoot the dog. A heart-to-heart talk between Kirk and his returning father (Fess Parker), coupled with the adoption of a new pup, paves the way to an emotional but reasonably happy ending. Earning $8 million domestically on its first release, Old Yeller convinced Walt Disney to devote more and more time to live-action films and less time to animation-which at the time was a sagacious business move. In 1963, Disney released a lesser sequel to Old Yeller titled Savage Sam. Hal Erickson

All Movie Guide

Savage Sam is the sequel to the successful Disney film Old Yeller. This time, the boys take off after a band of Apache kidnappers who have snatched the children of lazy neighbor Bud Searcy (Jeff York). With their true-blue bloodhound Sam, the kids take off with Brian Keith to take back the missing children. The viewer may be confused with the lightheartedness that accompanies the gravity of such an abduction and then is abandoned in favor of a more serious flavor later in the film. Norman Tokar directed this uneven feature that fared far less better at the box office than is predecessor. Dan Pavlides

Product Details

• UPC: 786936283945
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Time: 3:08:00
• Sales Rank: 1,884

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• Old Yeller
• Savage Sam

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