The Magic of Lassie (1978)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Don Chaffey

Writers:

Jean Holloway (writer)
Richard M. Sherman (story)

Release Date:

2 August 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Drama

Tagline:

Newest, brightest, happiest film of the year!

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Lassie | Dog Actor | On The Road | Escape

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Rayford Barnes	...	Reward Seeker
Mary Bennett	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Nanci Bergman	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Bob Cashell	...	Ed
Robin Cawiezell	...	Girl in Casino
Lynda Chase	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Eddie D'Angelo	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Lane Davies	...	Allan Fogerty
Gary Davis	...	Motorcycle Officer
Gene Evans	...	Sheriff Andrews
Alice Faye	...	The Waitress (Alice)
William Flatley	...	Truck Driver
Ralph Garrett	...	Kennelman
W.D. Goodman	...	Mighty Manuel
Klause Hense	...	Helicopter Pilot
David Himes	...	Father in Camper
Ron Honthaner	...	Official
Roger Jenkins Jr.	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Pete Kellett	...	Security Guard
Lassie	...	Lassie
Robert Lussier	...	Finch
Mike Mazurki	...	Apollo
Mark McGee	...	Member of the Mike Curb Congregation
Hank Metheney	...	Referee
Carl Nielsen	...	Mr. Kern
James Reynolds	...	Officer Wilson
Pernell Roberts	...	Jamison
Mickey Rooney	...	Gus
Michael Sharrett	...	Chris Mitchall
Maureen Smith	...	Member of the Mike Curb congregation
James Stewart	...	Clovis Mitchell
Ed Vasgersian	...	Lee
Regina Waldon	...	Mrs. Kern
Buck Young	...	T. V. Announcer
Stephanie Zimbalist	...	Kelly Mitchell

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:U | USA:G

Company:

Lassie Productions

Trivia:

Released in the UK as part of a double bill with the theatrical version of The Incredible Hulk TV pilot.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Jamison takes Lassie to his estate in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she escapes. You see her running, chased by a helicopter, and she finally goes over what looks like a cliff. In the next scene she gets up and limps away, but suddenly she is in Zion National Park, which is in Utah.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Lassie" (1997)

Soundtrack:

A Rose Is Not A Rose

There's no magic for Lassie in this dull story...

When THE MAGIC OF LASSIE opened at Radio City Music Hall, I was foolish enough to believe it would be as heart-warming as some of the first Lassie films were. Not.

The story was abysmal, the songs by the Sherman brothers were way below their usual level, the characters were uninspired and JAMES STEWART and MICKEY ROONEY had both seen much better days.

Then too, I was interested in seeing what ALICE FAYE's contribution would be like, since she'd been absent from the screen for so many years and was always so fetching in her earlier roles at Fox. Alice too, was letdown by the foolish script and the unflattering photography. Another disappointment.

Nothing original here, nothing even remotely interesting for an adult to enjoy--and clearly, no magic present for anyone. You can skip this one without missing a thing.