The Painted Hills (1951)

A Lassie movie. After years of prospecting, Jonathan finally strikes gold. He returns to town only to discover that his partner has since died and left Tommy fatherless. He decides to leave... See full summary »

Director:

Harold F. Kress

Writers:

True Boardman (screenplay), Alexander Hull (novel)

Stars:

Pal, Paul Kelly, Bruce Cowling

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Pal	...	Shep (as Lassie)
Paul Kelly	...	Jonathan Harvey
Bruce Cowling	...	Lin Taylor
Gary Gray	...	Tommy Blake
Art Smith	...	Pilot Pete
Ann Doran	...	Martha Blake
Chief Yowlachie	...	Bald Eagle
Andrea Virginia Lester	...	Mita
Brown Jug Reynolds	...	Red Wing

Storyline

A Lassie movie. After years of prospecting, Jonathan finally strikes gold. He returns to town only to discover that his partner has since died and left Tommy fatherless. He decides to leave Shep (played by Lassie) with Tommy to cheer him up. Meanwhile, Jonathan's new partner, Lin, isn't interested in sharing the gold, and lures Jonathan to his death. Lassie immediately deduces what's happened, so Lin poisons Lassie. Lassie barely pulls through and pursues Lin to a climactic confrontation where, due to an off-screen accident with some liquid nitrogen, Lin's gun jams.

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Plot Keywords:

lassie | gold | poison | blood | gold digger | 

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Genres:

Family | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lassie's Adventures in the Goldrush

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last of MGM's seven "Lassie" family films in Technicolor issued between 1943 and 1951, this entry was the only one which did not garner a contemporary New York Times review.

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Connections

Follows Challenge to Lassie (1949)

User Reviews

...or, Revenge of Lassie!

Who wouldn't love a flick in which Lassie, compelled by burning hatred, tracks down the man who killed his beloved owner? It's not quite as bleak as all that, (if it had taken place in a city, it would have been the sole entry in the "Lassie-noir" genre) but it IS a startlingly dark work, for a 50's family-movie audience. As for the acting, it's pretty much what you would expect...but during those final scenes, where Lassie faces the killer...aren't you glad it's not YOU facing that implacable, growling, fang-faced beast?