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IMDbPro

Where the Red Fern Grows

  • 19741974
  • GG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
Trailer for Where the Red Fern Grows
Play trailer0:24
2 Videos
10 Photos
  • Drama
  • Family
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Norman Tokar
  • Writers
    • Wilson Rawls(based on the novel "Where The Red Fern Grows" as written and told by)
    • Douglas C. Stewart(screenplay)
    • Eleanor Lamb(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Whitmore
    • Beverly Garland
    • Jack Ging
Top credits
  • Director
    • Norman Tokar
  • Writers
    • Wilson Rawls(based on the novel "Where The Red Fern Grows" as written and told by)
    • Douglas C. Stewart(screenplay)
    • Eleanor Lamb(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • James Whitmore
    • Beverly Garland
    • Jack Ging
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Trailer 0:24
    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Where the Red Fern Grows
    Clip 2:17
    Where the Red Fern Grows

    Photos10

    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Stewart Petersen in Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Stewart Petersen in Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Lisa Christine Christiansen and Stewart Petersen in Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Jill Clark, Beverly Garland, Jack Ging, Stewart Petersen, and Jeanna Wilson in Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)
    Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Whitmore
    James Whitmore
    • Grandpaas Grandpa
    Beverly Garland
    Beverly Garland
    • Motheras Mother
    Jack Ging
    Jack Ging
    • Fatheras Father
    Lonny Chapman
    Lonny Chapman
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Stewart Petersen
    Stewart Petersen
    • Billyas Billy
    Jill Clark
    • Aliceas Alice
    Jeanna Wilson
    • Saraas Sara
    Bill Thurman
    Bill Thurman
    • Sam Bellingtonas Sam Bellington
    Bill Dunbar
    • Ben Kyleas Ben Kyle
    Rex Corley
    • Rubin Pritchardas Rubin Pritchard
    John Lindsey
    • Rainie Pritchardas Rainie Pritchard
    Garland McKinney
    • Mr. Pritchardas Mr. Pritchard
    Robert S. Telford
    • Station Masteras Station Master
    • (as Robert Telford)
    Charles Seat
    • Carl Brownas Carl Brown
    Roger Pancake
    • Shopkeeperas Shopkeeper
    Marshall Edwards
    • Preacheras Preacher
    Lisa Christine Christiansen
    Lisa Christine Christiansen
    • Little Girl In Tahlequah at Store frontas Little Girl In Tahlequah at Store front
    • (uncredited)
    Janet Halliburton
    • Mourneras Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Norman Tokar
    • Writers
      • Wilson Rawls(based on the novel "Where The Red Fern Grows" as written and told by)
      • Douglas C. Stewart(screenplay)
      • Eleanor Lamb(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      You can visit the waterfall that was in the movie. Natural Falls State Park is located in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma.
    • Goofs
      Incorrectly regarded as goofs: instances of the boom mic being visible are a result of the home video transfer. The film was shot "open matte" and cropped to an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, however in subsequent video releases, the entire 1.33:1 frame is shown.
    • Quotes

      Billy: Grandpa says, in New England, everyone's going crazy over coon skin coats

      Father: That right?

      Billy: So we should be gettin' a good price.

      Father: I'll tell you what. I'll let you have one whole wall of that smokehouse if you think you and them dogs can cover it.

      Billy: It's not hardly big enough, is it?

    • Alternate versions
      The theatrical version does not feature a fade out before the end credits. All subsequent home media versions have "The End" with a brief fade to black before the end credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Saddest Animal Deaths in Movies (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      There Must Be Love
      (uncredited)

      Written by The Osmonds

      Sung by Andy Williams

    User reviews36

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Not quite as good as the book, yet a good film...
    While the movie version of Where the Red Fern Grows is not quite as good as the book by Wilson Rawls, the film is still a quality family film and very much worth watching if you are a fan of the novel.

    The changes in the plot for the movie version are minor, and most of the same themes Rawls intended for his readers can be found in the movie. However, one glaring difference is the fact that the characterization in the movie cannot touch the novel. The movie does little to build up Billy's "dog wanting" disease as well as Billy's dogged (pun intended) determination to secure himself some hunting hounds. This takes away from the reader's sympathy for and identification with the protagonist. Grandpa's character also does not come off as well as he does in the novel. In the novel, Grandpa is clearly a wise man despite his one irrational act; in the movie, he seems plain irrational, and there is no sign of his wisdom on the subjects of life and coon hunting. The extent to which the dogs are given characters and personalities in the book is not found in the movie, either. Billy's mother and father do translate fairly well from the book to the big screen, but the fact that the protagonist and his dogs do not is the major weakness of the film.

    In closing, if you're a fan of the novel, then you should definitely watch this movie version, but don't expect it to be as good as the classic children's novel.
    helpful•16
    3
    • BSS
    • Feb 1, 2001

    FAQ1

    • Is the mountain lion fight scene with the two dogs real?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 21, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Wo der rote Farn wächst
    • Filming locations
      • Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA
    • Production company
      • Doty-Dayton Production
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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