Driftwood (1947)

Six-year-old Jenny rescues a collie dog, the only survivor of a plane wreck. A tag on the dog's neck states that it is en route to a medical laboratory where its blood will be used for ... See full summary »

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Mary Loos (original screenplay), Richard Sale (original screenplay)

Stars:

Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan, Dean Jagger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ruth Warrick	...	Susan Moore
Walter Brennan	...	Murph
Dean Jagger	...	Dr. Steve Webster
Charlotte Greenwood	...	Mathilda
Natalie Wood	...	Jenny Hollingsworth
Jerome Cowan	...	Mayor Snyder
H.B. Warner	...	Rev. J. 'Grandpappy' Hollingsworth
Margaret Hamilton	...	Essie Keenan
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Judge Beckett
Francis Ford	...	Abner Green
Alan Napier	...	Dr. Nicholas Adams
Howland Chamberlain	...	Hiram Trumbell
James Bell	...	Sheriff Bolton
Teddy Infuhr	...	Lester Snyder
James Kirkwood	...	Rev. MacDougal

Storyline

Six-year-old Jenny rescues a collie dog, the only survivor of a plane wreck. A tag on the dog's neck states that it is en route to a medical laboratory where its blood will be used for spotted fever vaccine. Dr. Steven Webster meets both Jenny and the dog and "adopts" them both. His fiancée Susan isn't too fond of either the girl or the dog. Webster wants to get a hospital for the town but he is suppressed by the town mayor. In the arguments that follow, Webster's lab is wrecked and ticks infected with spotted fever escape. The town is in a panic and all want to be vaccinated. Jenny is infected and is about to die.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | vaccine | mayor | collie dog | physician | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fiore selvaggio

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Rev. MacDougal: If a thing can be done, science and skill can do it. If a thing cannot be done, only faith can do it.

User Reviews

Corny Drama

A little girl is not having a good day: her grand-pappy (her only relative) dies and then a plane crashes in her yard. The story is corny and the plot meanders somewhat, with the focus shifting from the plight of the little girl to small town politics to a spotted fever outbreak. In the same year she appeared in "Miracle on 34th Street," Wood here plays the youngster who quotes Bible verses. She is taken into the home of Brennan and Jagger (it's not clear why these two middle-aged men are living together). Warrick, who made her film debut in "Citizen Kane," and whose career went downhill from there, here plays the love interest of Jagger.