Live Action Discussions: Old Yeller

[ichabod]

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Old Yeller (1957)



Originally released - 25 December 1957
Director - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829038/">Robert Stevenson</a>

Based on the novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yeller-Perennial- ... r=8-3">Old Yeller</a> by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0320564/">Fred P. Gipson</a>

Main Cast
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0456565/">Tommy Kirk</a> - Travis Coates
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002019/">Kevin Corcoran</a> - Arliss Coates
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570192/">Dorothy McGuire</a> - Katie Coates
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662240/">Fess Parker</a> - Jim Coates
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0948714/">Jeff York</a> - Bud Searcy
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175200/">Chuck Connors</a> - Burn Sanderson
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0913340/">Beverly Washburn</a> - Lisbeth Sanderson

Songs
Best Doggone Dog in the West

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No film better captures the powerful emotions of hope, courage and friendship than Disney's treasured and much beloved classic, OLD YELLER. The quintessential tale of a boy's love for his dog has touched the hearts of millions, its enduring legacy growing with each new generation and is "still one of the best!" (Leonard Maltin) Set amidst the landscape of 1860s Texas - a young boy named Travis (Tommy Kirk) wants nothing to do with the lop-eared stray. But Old Yeller quickly proves himself a loyal friend, protecting the family farm and saving Travis' life. Soon, they become inseparable pals, sharing joyous experiences and learning valuable lessons about growing up.

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Well here's a classic Disney film, with a classic Disney cast. Old Yeller is still a famous film to date, often referenced as upsetting children (and Phoebe from Friends ). It is a tale of loyalty and friendship and ultimately sacrifice.

Despite the film's popularity, the first time I ever saw the movie was when I bought the Vault Disney edition DVD as a blind buy, and it won me over. The film is damn near perfect, simple, sweet and yet with lots of story and action. Having never read the book I can't comment upon how close an adaptation the film was, but judging by the comments on the immersive DVDit seems as it was a faithful adaptation with some chunks of dialogue being lifted directly from the book.

It is said that Walt was perhaps drawn to the story as it mirrored his own life. Brought up on a farm, some of the incidents covered in the story Walt may have experienced first hand during his childhood. Also given Walt's passion for anything based in America's history, it does seem like an obvious story for Walt to have chosen to be made into a film.

What I like about the film is that it is very calm, there are moments of light humor and feelings of family togetherness. It looks modest by today's standards of film making, but was probably modest by 1957 standards two. After all it came 4 years after the special effects monster 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea, following on from more western based action features such as Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates and The Great Locomotive Chase. The film lies in that groove of classic Disney storytelling, simple but with heart.

Of course what the film is mostly remembered for is it's climax where Travis has to make the ultimate sacrifice. I have to say this has never affected me when watching the film, probably because the film's ending is so well known that I was numbed to it, because I knew it would happen from the start, although I can see why it has affected generations. There is a lot of fuss surrounding this ending, with some radical theories flying around about Disney being a twisted soul, wanting children to be affected by the death of an animal as he may have been, wanting to upset children in making this film, probably from the soccer mom's who want to shield their innocents from thinking everything in life is rosy and nothing bad ever happens. of course these essays never pay heed to the fact that Walt didn't write this story and was based on the already popular children's book by Fred Gipson.

Old Yeller was well deserved in being treated to a 2 disc edition, one of the few classic live action films to be bestowed with such honor, and whilst it's bonus features probably do make it the weakest of all the vault titles, it's still knocks most of today's 2 discs (i.e. The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan) out of the water.
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Next time: The Love Bug

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[PixarFan2006]

I own Old Yeller on VHS and DVD. Its probably one of the best live action Disney movies. I was also not affected by the ending very much becuase Travis had to kill Old Yeller to put him out of his misery. I just hope they never plan to remake it as it would not be the same.

[PapiBear]

Apparently nobody minds spoiling the movie for everyone. Spoiler tags would be nice! Jeez.

This movie is a classic. I remember seeing it at the theater as a kid, and crying at the end. Oh man, was it emotional! I have the DVD as well, and it's very well done.

A good double feature would be this and Swiss Family Robinson.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I'm the only 6(?) year old who never even came close to shedding a tear in this movie.

I was never a big dog lover, that and you know what they say "Out with the old dog, in with the new!"

But still, despite me making fun/gloating that I never cried like others have, it's a really good movie. But it has been a long while since I've seen it. Should probably rent it again some time.

[dvdjunkie]

I own both the Vault Disney 2-Disc DVD set, and the "double-feature" disc with the sequel "Savage Sam".

When this movie came out, I was a young teen-ager, and I had to make excuses to my friends about why I couldn't go do things with them, so I could go to the theater to see this movie almost every weekend that it was there.

The cast of this film is perfect with Fess Parker and Dorothy McGuire as the mother and father and, of course, Jeff York as the irritating, but funny Bud Searcy. Tommy Kirk and Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran as the two sons were perfectly cast. I still remember Kevin chasing Tommy and yelling "You can't rock my dog!"

'Old Yeller' is a classic Disney story told in classic Disney style. When the dog is caged after its run-in trying to save the family, it just pulls at your heartstrings. I don't know of too many who people who aren't brought to tears by the ending of this film. It is very emotional, and done so very well.

Those who haven't seen this movie need to buy it, don't bother renting it, it belongs in everyone's collection, and watch it with the whole family. Shut the cell phones off, put a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door, and watch this movie without interruption. It will move you.

Great choice Ichabod for a discussion. This is without comparison, one of the best of the Disney Live-Action films.

[goofystitch]

I'm not sure how old I was when I first saw this, but I was probably somewhere around 7 because we had just got my dog and I remember balling at the end. I had it on VHS before DVD and I hadn't cried on subsequent viewings until the last time I saw it. The last time I watched it was around 9 months to a year after that same dog died and I re-connected with the emotions of loosing your pet. This is a very powerful film.

My middle school always made us do the science fair and I was into movies, so I did a project once on how movies affect your emotions. I would check participant's heart rates after showing them scenes from various movies. For the drama section, I used the scene in Old Yeller where Travis has to shoot his dog and it almost always made heart rates increase.

I recently saw the sequel, "Savage Sam," and I was surprised at how different the two movies are. Same characters, but completely not what I expected. Still very good in it's own way, though. I highly reccomend both films.

[Escapay]

Since I was about 4 old, I've always had a fear of dogs (thanks to a traumatic event in Virginia Beach), so I don't like being around them in real life. Watching movies about dogs, though, is something I can do occasionally. I mean, I like the Air Bud series...well, just the first three or so, and I can tolerate Air Buddies to a certain extent. Also, I used to love catching an occasional-on-local-stations showing of Chips, the Wonder Dog, and the remake Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey was one of those films repeated ad nauseum on the Disney Channel that I enjoyed quite a bit. But I don't think I ever sat down to actually watch Old Yeller until I bought the Vault Disney 2-disc set a couple years ago. Like everyone else, I already knew the ending since it was always the first thing someone would say about the movie. So when I watched it, I wasn't really affected by it the way other people have been. I mean, it can be pretty upsetting, but for me it was just an "eh" feeling, like a dramatic plot point that serves its purpose and moves the story along.

I have to say, though, I was much more affected by the ending for The Yearling. That caused me to cry buckets when I first saw it, and I still tear up whenever I watch it.

Escapay

[dvdjunkie]

goofystitch wrote:

we had just got my dog and I remember balling at the end.

Goofystitch, I am sure that you meant bawling or crying at the end and not that you went dancing, or some other innuendo for what you wrote.

[goofystitch]

dvdjunkie wrote:

Goofystitch, I am sure that you meant bawling or crying at the end and not that you went dancing, or some other innuendo for what you wrote.

No, I'm a straight up baller shot calla!... yes. I meant bawling as in crying alot. lol.

[Escapay]

goofystitch wrote:

we had just got my dog and I remember balling at the end.

Goofystitch, I am sure that you meant bawling or crying at the end and not that you went dancing

**Imagines goofystitch out doing the foxtrot or the tango or some other ballroom dance...**

Escapay

[Vlad]

I watched the movie for the first time ever yesterday, after seeing the Friends episode, realizing I never saw it.

I gotta say I hated it. I didn't like how they treated the animals. Did they have live animals on the set? I thought the way they handled the cow, the calf, the bear cub and the pigs was very rough. That cow really looked like she was panicked. I didn't like the two boys at all. The little one was an annoying brat (the scene with him and the bear cub got on my nerves), and the other one was just unkind to animals. I was kinda rooting for the animals to finish them off.

I'm glad I saw it, but never again...

[carolinakid]

I adore the film. I first saw it when I was 14. I have the Vault Disney release of Old Yeller on DVD with all the terrific extras.

Tommy Kirk was 14 when he made the film but I didn’t really have a gay boy crush on him until I saw him in Swiss Family Robinson when he was 17.

I’m a big Dorothy McGuire fan and she’s wonderful as the mother.

When Travis shoots a rabid Old Yeller is one of the cinema’s most tear jerking moments, imo.

Arliss gets on my nerves but I find most of Kevin Corcoran’s characters do except for Toby Tyler. Maybe because he’s the main character, so he has to be more heroic and someone to root for.

I’d give Old Yeller 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. It absolutely is classic Disney.

[twihard]

Dorothy McGuire is a fav of mine. Love this film for her. Much better role than in Swiss Fmaily Robinson where she's absolutely wasted. I'm glad she's still remembered today for being not just a Disney mom but THE disney mom.