Son of Lassie (1945)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

S. Sylvan Simon

Writers:

Jeanne Bartlett (screenplay)
Jeanne Bartlett (story)

Release Date:

20 April 1945 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Plot:

Laddie (Son of Lassie !) and his master are trapped in Norway during WW2 - has he inherited his mothers famous courage ? |

Plot Keywords:

Lassie | Dog | Dog Actor | Character Name In Title

Cast

Peter Lawford	...	Joe Carraclough
Donald Crisp	...	Sam Carraclough
June Lockhart	...	Priscilla
Nigel Bruce	...	Duke of Radling
William Severn	...	Henrik (as William 'Billy' Severn)
Leon Ames	...	Anton
Donald Curtis	...	Sergeant Eddie Brown
Nils Asther	...	Olav
Robert Lewis	...	Sergeant Schmidt
Fay Helm	...	Joanna
Peter Helmers	...	Willi
Otto Reichow	...	Karl
Patricia Prest	...	Hedda
Terry Moore	...	Thea (as Helen Koford)
Leon Tyler	...	Arne

Runtime:

USA:102 min | 100 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #10417) | Finland:K-8 (1961) | Finland:S (1948) | Netherlands:6 (2008) | USA:G | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

This film was the first filmed in the Technicolor "monopack" process, where one magazine of film registered all three primary colors, rather than the original three-strip Technicolor process (introduced in 1932), where a separate magazine of film had to be exposed (and processed) for each of the three primary colors.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Toward the end of the movie, while Joe and Laddie are escaping the work camp, Laddie bites the leg of a Nazi soldier. The "bait" to make Laddie bite can be seen under the pants-leg, in Laddie's mouth.

Quotes:

Village Padre: I don't think you will find a poor dog in this village. He wouldn't stop here. No refuse bins.
German Soldier: Why not?
Village Padre: Because there is no refuse.

Movie Connections:

Followed by The Painted Hills (1951)

Boy loves dog, dog loves boy.

This is a fine movie for animal lovers, for it is far more that the usual canine showcase. It is an exceptionally well made film in terms of technical excellence. The dialogue is always appropriate, the cinematography is very good, and the color is flawless. As the movie progresses the symbiotic relationship between Joe (Peter Lawford) and Laddie (son of a Lassie) enhances both roles. The cultural setting is that of World War Two, and Laddie experiences the full range of wartime threats, from being bombed to being captured, and so on. The supporting actors are good beyond expectation, and the topography of Norway (even though the movie was filmed in Canada) is precise. What is particularly unique about this film is that Laddie is not portrayed as a human in dog's clothing. Laddie is a dog that does what dogs do, both rightly and wrongly. One wonders how many children in the post-war era better understood war and its dangers after seeing this film. There must have been many. Bottom line: Lawford is better as a member of the dog pack that he ever was as one of the rat pack. This movie should not be missed!