Old Yeller (1957)

Old Yeller (1957)

7/10

Starring

Dorothy McGuire

Fess Parker

Kevin Corcoran

Tommy Kirk

Spike

Directed by Robert Stevenson

Old Yeller is a cultural icon, and is based on Fred Gipson’s 1956 children’s 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 has found its way into the homes of many, and even those who haven’t seen it 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 dies in the end—sorry, spoiler for those who haven’t seen it yet) or its mention in Justice League as Green Lantern/John Stewart’s favourite movie.

The movie features a great cast, from the kids to the grown-ups—everyone was just perfect. I also have to give Disney a pat on the back for the dog training. It was wonderful to see the dog’s reactions and behaviours, showing that a lot of time went into his training.

Even the child actor who played Arliss was impressive. I ended up loving his portrayal, as his pocket never seemed to lack anything but fun.

Yeller was a stray dog who came into the lives of the Coates family when their father left to search for work. His arrival was welcomed by the youngest Coates, Arliss, who always wanted a dog. But the eldest, Travis, wasn’t happy about this new addition to the family and was ready to do anything to get Yeller out of the house. Travis changed his mind when one day he found himself in trouble, and there was nobody around but Old Yeller to jump in and save him. (I’m purposely leaving out enough details so you can enjoy the movie if you haven’t seen it yet.)

Walt Disney himself produced this family hit, and it was well-received by all who’ve seen it. The movie stands as one of the best films about a boy and his dog. Although Disney has tried other dog-and-boy movies like Homeward Bound or Savage Sam, none come close to the dramatic, adventurous fun that Old Yeller delivers.

The movie was well-received, as I said, and it brought in a lot of cash for Disney—so much so that it’s been re-released multiple times. You’ll always find the DVD of Old Yeller available anywhere. So, if like me, you’ve waited this long to see it, maybe you shouldn’t wait any longer.

I have to warn you still, this classic has a few slacks, like the pacing can feel slow at times, especially in the earlier parts of the film when the story is still setting up. Then, some of the emotional beats, while effective, are predictable, and viewers familiar with similar stories, will be able to guess their way through.