Old Yeller (1957)

A boy brings a yellow dog home. The dog loves the family as much as they love him, but can the love last ?

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Fred Gipson (screenplay), William Tunberg (screenplay),

Stars:

Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Jeff York

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dorothy McGuire	...	Katie Coates
Fess Parker	...	Jim Coates
Jeff York	...	Bud Searcy
Chuck Connors	...	Burn Sanderson
Beverly Washburn	...	Lisbeth Searcy
Tommy Kirk	...	Travis Coates
Kevin Corcoran	...	Arliss Coates

Storyline

Young Travis Coates is left to take care of the family ranch with his mother and younger brother while his father goes off on a cattle drive in the 1860's. When a yellow mongrel comes for an uninvited stay with the family, Travis reluctantly adopts the dog. After a series of scrapes involving raccoons, snakes, bears and all manner of animals, Travis grows to love and respect Old Yeller, who comes to have a profound effect on the boy's life.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | 1860s | bear | ranch | cattle | 

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Taglines:

All the heart, all the excitement of a great frontier adventure!

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Genres:

Family | Drama | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Su Más Fiel Amigo

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A print ad from the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, February 11th, 1958 shows that this film was widely distributed on a double bill in 21 area theaters. Most of the indoor theaters co-featured Ambush at Cimarron Pass starring Scott Brady, and all of the drive-in theaters co-featured Underwater! starring Jane Russell and Richard Egan.

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Goofs

After Old Yeller catches the catfish and Travis scolds him and Arliss for being in the drinking water, the next scene shows Old Yeller lying on his side perfectly clean and dry.

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Quotes

Katie Coates: You crazy, wonderful dog!

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Crazy Credits

and introducing Tommy Kirk Kevin Corcoran

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Connections

Featured in 'Old Yeller': Remembering a Classic (2002)

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Soundtracks

"Old Yeller"
Lyrics by Hazel George (as Gil George)
Music by Oliver Wallace
Sung by Jerome Courtland

User Reviews

Very Memorable A Half Century Ago

Of all the movies I saw as a young in the theaters in the 1950s, the only one that haunted me or brought tears to my eyes was this one. It made a lasting impression on everyone in our family. Not long afterward, we bought a Golden Retriever puppy and it was a fabulous dog.

After a long, long absence, I saw it for the third time in the late1990s on VHS. Since I never forgot the sad ending, I was prepared for that. My attitude was great going in, especially since I had become a fan of Dorothy McGuire since her magnificent performance in "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn."

Anyway - hey, I have to be honest - this time around I was disappointed. I think I expected too much since the film had such strong nostalgia value. Yes, it was still a nice old-fashioned story but the impact was so-so and McGuire looked like she had aged 20 years since "Brooklyn." She didn't look like the same person from the famous 1945 drama.

Tommy Kirk went on to be a star on television and in the movies for Walt Disney while I don't believe Kevin Corcoran, who was just as good as Kirk, did a whole lot after this....some westerns into the '60s. Good 'ole "Davy Crockett," Fess Parker, also is in this movie but has a minor role, being seen only in the beginning and at the end. Chuck Connors also had a small role.

A nice story, no doubt. Perhaps another viewing with lower expectations would make me rate this highly again. Just the name "Old Yeller" is still special to me, however.