Old YellerDogs were a necessity for life on the frontier on account they'd mark your territory.Mind you, the mutt in this family-drama has more uses than property surveying. Civil War veteran Jim (Fess Parker) must leave his wife (Dorothy McGuire) and sons Travis (Tommy Kirk) and Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) behind when he joins a cattle drive to earn money for the family.While Jim is away, Arliss is attacked by a bear but rescued by locale mongrel Old Yeller whom Arliss adopts as his own. But when Yeller becomes ill Arliss must make the ultimate decision.A metaphor for the transition from childhood into adulthood, Walt Disney's 1957 adaptation of the frontier novel brings this unforgettable story to vivid life with a cast of Disney mainstays supporting the canine's show stopping performance.Besides, putting down your first pet prepares you for when you have to put down a cheating spouse.vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

This is a somewhat nice and heartwarming story about Travis Coates (Tommy Kirk) left to take care of the family ranch with his mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire) and younger brother Arliss (Kevin Corcoran). Later, a a stray dog randomly visits the ranch and Travis reluctantly adopts it, but grows to love the dog (which he named Old Yeller) as it developed a profound effect on Travis' life.Released in 1957 and filmed in color, this was a descent movie back in its time. The acting was pretty good and the relationship between Travis and Old Yeller is heartwarming. The Western scenery is breath-taking - a breath of fresh air. The brothers' adventures together, running around, dealing with critters, etc. with Old Yeller give the film an exciting touch, ****spoiler ahead**** but its tragic climax is a real downer, which came as a shock to me after witnessing such heartening scenes for most of the movie. As a result, I think the movie's climax might be disturbing for children, so I do not believe this is a 100% family-genre movie.Overall, it's a touching movie with some life lessons learned, but the fate of the dog towards the end might spoil all the good vibes while watching this film.Grade B-

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.

"Old Yeller" is a prime example of a movie that goes for a sentimental approach but does not overstep itself and condescend into becoming schmaltzy. Sure, most everybody can identify and get involved of the tale about a boy and his dog, but the filmmakers and script-writers have to be conscious enough about what they are doing to pull it off. "Old Yeller" is not a movie that bends down on its knees and pleads for you to like it. It just plays it straight and sweetly and gets the exact effect it wants out of you.In the movie, young but world-conscious Travis Coates (Tommy Kirk) is sad about the passing-away of his previous dog and unwillingly comes upon another companion when a golden retriever comes a-bounding into his life. Travis is initially skeptical of this dog, but is forced to adapt to him when his younger brother wants to adopt him. However, as time goes on, Travis himself becomes more and more attached to the retriever than his brother. And he forms not merely a friendship, but a partnership with this lovable canine, whom he names Old Yeller.There have been many boy-and-dog (or substitute "dog" for any other animal) stories over the years, trying to be "Old Yeller." Some have accomplished it like that wonderful 2000 movie "My Dog Skip." But this incredibly sentimental and heart-warming tale has immortalized itself with its ways of getting the audience involved. I'd be even as daring to say that people who did not growing up with a dog will be undoubtedly moved by this story unless they are a moral-devoid curmudgeon. I won't give away the ending of the movie because of the Internet Movie Database's guidelines, even though I think we all know the way this movie culminates. There's a saying going around that if you did not cry at the end of "Old Yeller" you are either hopelessly lacking a heart or a lousy hypocrite. I mean, how can your heartstrings not be pulled at by the way this movie culminates? Please keep in mind that this review is coming from a 19-year-old college student who re-watched the movie in his early years as an adult, not somebody simply reminiscing about cinema experiences of the past."Old Yeller" aims for sympathy and it gets it. But it does not overplay its motives and storytelling techniques to the point where it becomes schmaltzy and unpleasantly over-sweet. From my personal experience, after having watched "Old Yeller" for the first time since sixth grade, I wanted nothing more than to walk up to my own dog and embrace him lovingly, which I did. Some movies are influential because of a revolutionary factor. Pictures like this work because they tread upon familiar ground, but do it right. "Old Yeller" is one of the best doggone dog movies in the West, East, North, and South. It's a wonderful little tale.