Old Yeller (1957)

Purely Joyful Movie!

Good concept, poorly executed.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Old Yeller (1957): Dir: Robert Stevenson / Cast: Fess Parker, Dorothy Maguire, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Chuck Connors: Who was prepared for the violent undertones of this so-called family film? Here is an example of the rating system misfiring. It is one thing to chastise a restricted film for violence, but it is another to consider a film such as this "family" viewing. Parental guidance is suggested here for its final adult move. The plot regards a yellow dog bearing the title name that is befriended into a family that lives on a farm. This dog is heroic as it engages in combat with bulls, boars and bears but once the dog is inflicted with rabies we witness the disturbing finale. Unsuitable for children yet its message is still relevant on its move to adulthood. It is beautifully shot with wonderful wildlife footage. Director Robert Stevenson sets the film's mood but he seems to have no idea what audience should view this garbage. Among the cast only Tommy Kirk seems broad. He at first rejects Yeller until the dog becomes heroic. Kirk will unfortunately have to bullet the dog once rabies factor in. The rest of the cast is cardboard. Kevin Corcoran plays younger brother who discovers Yeller. Fess Parker as father is gone through most of the film. Dorothy Maguire as mother is pretty standard. The film is like life itself. It has its ups and downs but ultimately an end. Score: 4 ½ / 10

Old Yeller is a culture icon, a movie that has stood long and I believe plans to stay that long, as long as no one tries to remake it. Based on a Fred Gipson's 1956 children book of the same name, Old Yeller is about a man's best friend, a dog who was ready to do anything to protect his human family.The movie is somewhat an icon, it has found its way into the homes of many, even those who haven't seen the movie have heard about it, thanks to references in the ever popular F.R.I.E.N.D.S TV series, where Phoebe didn't know that Yeller died in the end (Sorry, Spoiler for all of you who haven't seen the movie yet) or it's reference in Justice League as Green Lantern/John Stewart's favorite movie.The movie features a good cast from the kids to the grown-ups everyone was just perfect; then I have to give Disney a good pat on the back for the dog training. It was just wonderful to see the dog's reactions and his behaviors showed that time went into the training of the dog.Even the child actor who played Arliss was good, he was impressive in his portrayal and I ended up loving him as his pocket never seemed to lack anything but fun.Yeller was a stray dog that happened to come into the life of the Coates family when their father, went out to search for work.His coming was welcomed by the youngest of the Coates, Arliss who always wanted a dog, but the eldest Travis was not so happy to have this new inclusion into the family and was ready to do anything to get Yeller out of the house. Travis changed his mind when one day he was in trouble and there was nobody around but Old Yeller to jump in and save him. (I'm purposely leaving out enough details so that you can enjoy the movie if you have not seen it yet)Walt Disney himself was the producer of this family hit, and it was well received by all who has seen it, the movie can be said to stand as one of the best films about a boy and his dog, although Walt Disney (the company) has tried many other dog and boy movies like Homeward Bound or Savage Sam, but none comes close to the kind of dramatic, adventure fun that Old Yeller delivers.The movie was well received as said and it brought in cash for Disney, so much so that the movie has been re-released, you will always find the DVD of Old Yeller available anywhere, so if like me you waited this long to see it, then maybe you should not wait any longer.

This is what Disney did best in the 50's and early 60's with their live-action unit-no cynicism, no innuendo, just good family friendly storytelling with high production values and a moral.  It is so refreshing to see this sort of movie, a true family movie, not just a 2 hour fart joke like so many kids movies are today.  I watched this with my 9 year old daughter the other day, and, somewhat surprisingly, she remained completely engaged and enthralled throughout.  I say surprised because so much of what is in the theater and on television for kids these days is just downright lazy, using flash, glitz, and breakneck pacing to distract from the rotten storytelling.  Old Yeller, like most good stories, unfolds at a slower pace, but, because of the great storytelling, production, and acting, the payoff is not delayed, and the movie is satisfying throughout.  It seems that today there is no true "family movie" category in cinema anymore, just sophomoric garbage for the kids, and empty violence, sex, and superficial titillation for everyone else.  That is why it is so great to see movies like Old Yeller, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and other timeless live-action Disney family classics still getting some exposure.

In Old yeller, Travis (tommy kirk) is left alone with his ma (Dororthy McGuire) and little brother arliss (Kevin Cocoran) after his pa is off to sell cattle for money, so the family can get through the winter. so while he's gone for 3 months, he has to work like a man to get things done. along the way, he finds a dog. while initially he dislikes the dog for ruining his life, He comes to liking the dog. soon the two of them become inseparable. but will the Problems they face, such as the dog's original owner (played by the awesome chuck Connors) and an incurable contagious disease, tear them apart? I cannot stress this enough, Old Disney is, and will forever be better than the new Disney. It's movies like old yeller that will never be made again without heavy censorship. They would water down the hog attack scene. they would water down the ending. they would water down everything possible.But here's an original piece of work from Disney, and it's well worth buying on DVD or VHS, however you can find it.