My bother and I watched this on TV in 1960. I was 10 , he was 9. To this day ( and I am not kidding) neither of us are able to watch any movie where the dog or indeed any animal is a central theme to the movie.The really awful events at the end of the movie are so distressing that my brother and I ( I am now 61 and my brother 60) have effected us for life. There is absolutely nothing redeeming in watching this movie. Forget it completely if you want a "normal" life.It's just too utterly emotional and totally distressing and very unnecessary. I will never forget how I felt at the age of 10 , as I am still reliving this horrific experience , even now, it has never left me.

Not sure if it could be called a "spoiler", but the ending of this movie, even right now when I think about it, has forever kept me in tears. I have seen it maybe only 3 times in all these years (am 53 now), and it still never failed to have me so emotional at the end. And even today, when ever I go to a pet store with dogs (even cats now), or when I went to a pound twice to get a new pet, I can not stay in there for long before my voice breaks and I start shedding tears. This movie had such a profound, and ever lasting effect on me, and will till the day I pass away. I LOVE this movie more than anything I have ever seen, and wish it were available on DVD, or even VHS! Yes, even a guy can cry too.

The comment from the person who saw this as an 8 year old certainly brought back memories for me.I must have seen this film at least three times during the pre-TV days of Saturday morning special programs for children.If you've ever sat in a theater packed with eight to twelve year olds all bawling their eyes out together, you know it is something you'll never forget. I was able to find a VHS of the movie in later years and was astonished to find how charming the picture is on the adult level as well. Kudos, hugs, and kisses to anyone still alive who helped put it together.

stumbled on this one while watching amc one day. this movie is better than old yeller and thats saying somthing. i related to the relationship of the boy and his father very well and growing my dog at times was my best friend. i highly recommend watching this movie if u get a chance. make sure its the 1940 movie and not the remake with jonny whittaker.