Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Three pets escape from a California ranch to find their owners in San Francisco.

Director:

Duwayne Dunham

Writers:

Sheila Burnford (novel), Caroline Thompson (screenplay),

Stars:

Don Alder, Ed Bernard, Michael J. Fox

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Don Alder	...	Molly's Father
Ed Bernard	...	Desk Sergeant
Kevin Chevalia	...	Jamie Seaver
Anne Christianson	...	Research Assistant
Ted D'Arms	...	Vet
Woody Eney	...	Forest Ranger 'Mark'
Kim Greist	...	Laura Burnford-Seaver
Rich Hawkins	...	Forest Ranger
Robert Hays	...	Bob Seaver
Nurmi Husa	...	The Caterer
Jane Jones	...	Molly's Mother
Veronica Lauren	...	Hope Burnford
David MacIntyre	...	Foote
Kit McDonough	...	Female Forest Ranger
Mary Marsh	...	Laura's Mom

Storyline

Three pets (Chance, a young dog unfamiliar with the world; Shadow, an aging, wise dog; and Sassy, a snobby cat) are left behind when their family goes on vacation. Unsure of what happened, the animals set out on a quest to find their family. This journey across America is very dangerous and the animals risk never seeing their masters again. The group of pets travel across forested mountains and areas of wide-open countryside, while their family searches for them in the same areas.

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Plot Keywords:

cat | dog | journey | quest | golden retriever | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Comedy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 February 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Incrível Jornada

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$41,833,324 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchwood Pacific Partners 1, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film is a remake of the 1963 version The Incredible Journey and based on Sheila Burnford's novel of the same name, the main characters names and breeds have been changed. In the film Chance is a young, exuberant American Bulldog, while in the novel his name is Luath and he is a Labrador Retriever. In the film Shadow is a wise, old Golden Retriever while in the novel his name is Bodger and he is a Bull Terrier. The film has a female Himalayan cat named Sassy, while the novel has a male Siamese cat named Tao.

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Goofs

When Sassy shakes her head during mealtime at the kitchen of the woman temporarily watching the animals, a bell rings although no cat bell can be seen on her collar.

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Quotes

Sassy: [chased by the fat guy] This way, Thunder Butt.

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Connections

Featured in 101 Dalmatians (1996)

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Soundtracks

"WITCH DOCTOR"
Written by Ross Bagdasarian

User Reviews

Great Show

It's a classic! Everybody knows that! I remember seeing the original Homeward Bound (it was called "The Incredible Journey") and it basically was the exact same story this one is, only more bland. I hated that narrator that told us the whole story. With this version, however the story is told by the animals that lived the adventure. That's what makes this story interesting and worthwhile, when you see the characters and the plot from a different point of view.

Chance, an American bulldog (Michael J. Fox), Sassy, a Himalayan cat (Sally Field), and Shadow, a golden retriever (Don Ameche) must find their way across the Californian mountains and valleys in search of the family that loves them. No journey is without its conflicts and there are some that each take a toll on the main characters.

Another perfect Disney show--it easily scored a 8 out of 10 for me. If you're considering watching the sequel, don't bother. It doesn't have the magic or personality this one does and Shadow sounds nothing like he used to (I think Don Ameche died before they made the second one).