Where the Red Fern Grows (2003)

Where the Red Fern Grows is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs.

Directors:

Lyman Dayton, Sam Pillsbury

Writers:

Wilson Rawls (novel), Douglas C. Stewart (screenplay),

Stars:

Joseph Ashton, Dave Matthews, Renee Faia

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Ashton	...	Billy Coleman
Dave Matthews	...	Will Coleman
Renee Faia	...	Jenny Coleman
Mac Davis	...	Hod Bellington
Kris Kristofferson	...	Older Billy Coleman
Ned Beatty	...	Sheriff Abe McConnell
Dabney Coleman	...	Grandpa
Gary Anson	...	Bully Wendell
Orvel Baldridge	...	Mr. Pritchard
Robert Bauman	...	Hunter #2
Andrew Dickison	...	Rainie Pritchard
Stuart Dickison	...	Rubin Pritchard
Julia Downs	...	Sarah Coleman
Tess Downs	...	Alice Coleman
Kevin Gourd	...	Bully Garth

Storyline

Where the Red Fern Grows is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs. Set in the Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression, Billy Coleman works hard and saves his earnings for 2 years to achieve his dream of buying two coonhound pups. He develops a new trust in God as he faces overwhelming challenges in adventure and tragedy roaming the river bottoms of Cherokee country with "Old Dan" and "Little Ann." The movie follows the inseparable trio as they romp relentlessly through the Ozarks, trying to tree the elusive "Ghost" raccoon. Their efforts prove victorious as they win the coveted gold cup in the annual coon-hunt contest, capture wily ghost coons and bravely fight a mountain lion. Through these adventures Billy realizes the meaning of true friendship, loyalty, integrity and heroics, in this timeless and poignant coming of age story.

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Plot Keywords:

fern | dog | hunting | coming of age | ozark mountains | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kutyabajok

Filming Locations:

Cookson Hills, Oklahoma, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crusader Entertainment, Elixir Films, Bob Yari Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the Ozark Coonhound Championship the banner says that the year is 1937, but earlier panning across the grounds there are trucks from the late 1940s- early '50s.

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Connections

Remake of Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)

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Soundtracks

"Traveler"
Written by Elaine Rubenstein and John Andrew Schreiner
Performed by Fernando Ortega
© 2002 Big Moose Music (BMI)/John Andrew Schreiner Music (ASCAP)
Produced by John Andrew Schreiner

User Reviews

Very good adaptation

This movie was a very good adaptation of the book, and this coming from someone who is very critical. I have, like most, read the book many times, which I think makes it harder to like any film adaptation. However, the movie follows the book very well, omitting small things that really didn't have a lot to do with the plot-line. I would say the movie had a little more of a religious slant than the book did. The acting was nice. I would say the major criticism would be they didn't really get into the dog's personalities much. The book did a great job of showing Dan as a clutz with a big heart and Ann as the smart one. However, I would recommend this and it was a million times better than the original movie adaptation.