Barnes & Noble

Based on Wilson Rawls's cherished 1961 coming-of-age novel, Where the Red Fern Grows was an audience and critical hit on the film-festival circuit. This is one of those years-in-the-making labors of love that attract top-flight character actors, including Kris Kristofferson (at his folksiest as the narrator), Ned Beatty, and Dabney Coleman. Singer Dave Matthews is also here, making his debut as an actor. This is a very good, and very decent, family film. There is no profanity. The only chase scenes are between hunting dogs and raccoons. The story extols personal responsibility, hard work, faith, family, and friendship. That it makes its premiere on home video speaks volumes about the vagaries of distribution: This is just the sort of film parents always say they'd like to see released in theaters. Joseph Ashton stars as Billy, a poor, barefoot Ozark Mountains boy who yearns for hunting dogs of his own. He earns the money to purchase Old Dan and Little Ann and devotes himself to their care, nurturing and training. Soon, they become known as the best hunting dogs in Oklahoma. But what's a boy-and-his-dogs story without tragedy? A fatal accident involving a local bully and an encounter with a mountain lion will likely, to quote Billy, "bust your heart in two." Where the Red Fern Grows is old-fashioned without being sappy. As Billy prepares to make good on a pledge to fell a titanically large tree, his grandfather tells him, "Every boy should have a tree like this to cut down once in his life." The evocative bluegrass and country score, with songs by Wynonna Judd and the ethereal Alison Krauss, warm the film like a quilt. Awaiting discovery by readers of Rawls's book and dog lovers in general, Red Fern should blossom on home video. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Based on the 1961 children's novel by Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows is a family-oriented drama four years in the making. This project is co-directed by Lyman Dayton, who also adapted the screenplay and produced the 1974 filmed version. The story involves 12-year-old Billy Coleman (Joseph Ashton), who lives in the Ozark mountains with his mother, Jenny (Renee Faia), and father, Will (Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band). Billy's grandfather (Dabney Coleman) encourages him to save money to buy a hunting dog. For two years, Billy does odd jobs in order to save the money. When he finally gets enough, he buys two puppies and names them Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy eventually trains them to become hunting dogs and enters the Fall Hunting Competition. Also starring Kris Kristofferson and Ned Beatty. Even though principal photography started in 1999, Where the Red Fern Grows didn't premiere until the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival due to numerous production difficulties and law suits. Andrea LeVasseur

Product Details

• UPC: 786936253122
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Time: 1:26:00
• Sales Rank: 8,064

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