Old Yeller
A boy brings a yellow dog home. The dog loves the family as much as they love him, but can the love last ?
- Director: Robert Stevenson
- Genre:Adventure / Drama / Family / Western
- Runtime:84 minutes
Cast
Dorothy McGuire : Katie Coates
Fess Parker : Jim Coates
Jeff York : Bud Searcy
Chuck Connors : Burn Sanderson
Beverly Washburn: Lisbeth Searcy
The Coates family consists of father Jim (Fess Parker), mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire), older son Travis (Tommy Kirk) and a younger son Arliss (Kevin Corcoran). The family is so poor the children have never seen a dollar bill, other than worthless Confederate dollars.
While Jim is away on a cattle drive, a scruffy “yeller” Blackmouth Cur mix visits the family uninvited and scares their mule, causing it to knock down a fence. Travis unsuccessfully tries to shoo him off, while his younger brother Arliss takes a liking to and bitterly defends him against Travis. Travis eventually accepts the dog and a profound bond grows between the two. Still Old Yeller’s history of stealing food from others has caused him a bad reputation and the family’s neighbor’s daughter, Lizbeth Searcy, says she hopes he does not get into trouble because he is going to have puppies with her dog.
One day, Arliss tries to capture a bear cub and the angry mother bear charges him. Yeller rushes in to defend Arliss and drives off the bear, earning the admiration of Travis and his mom.
Yeller’s owner Mr. Burn Sanderson (Chuck Connors) arrives looking for his dog but comes to realize that the family needs the dog more than he does and agrees to trade the dog to Arliss in exchange for a horny toad and a home-cooked meal. Mr. Sanderson later warns Travis that there is a “hydrophobia” (rabies) epidemic affecting several animals in the area and to be cautious.
Another event is when the family cow, Old Rose, gives birth and Travis tries to bring her and the calf home. Rose, however, instinctively charges Travis forcing him to flee. Old Yeller manages to pounce on the cow a few times before she can hurt Travis. She then allows Travis to bring the calf home under the watchful eye of Yeller. Read more
