Lassie Come Home

This was one off the first films I ever saw as a child and even today at 31 I still have much love for this film. The ending even now gets me really emotional. I know its only a film but Dogs are really loyal even in real life. Its a shame Man ain't as loyal. A brilliant film where everyone should love.

A wonderful story about a boy and his dog. Possibly the first movie of that type too. Simple yet heart-warming plot, great cinematography and scenery and some great performances. Movie features some stars in the making. Roddy McDowall is hardly recognisable at 14 years old, and puts in a solid performance as the boy. Elizabeth Taylor was only 10/11, and acting in her second movie, when she appeared in this. Good supporting cast too. And let's not forget the performance of the dog who plays Lassie - great work from her. Great, classic, movie and suitable for all ages.

Fred M. Wilcox directed this popular adaptation of the Eric Knight novel that sees the debut of Lassie, a brave and loyal collie dog that lives in the Yorkshire home of the Carraclough family; Son Joe(played by Roddy McDowall) father Sam(played by Donald Crisp) and his wife(played by Elsa Lanchester). The family is destitute, and in desperation, Sam sells Lassie to the Duke of Rudling(played by Nigel Bruce) for his daughter Priscilla(played by Elizabeth Taylor) in Scotland, where Lassie will undertake a long perilous trek back home to the boy he loves, Joe. Heartwarming and beautiful film with a fine cast of actors, even among the supporting players like Edmund Gwenn, and especially a wonderful interlude with an elderly couple who nurse Lassie back to health. The ending may not be in doubt, but who would want it to be any other way?

I'm not going to say much about this movie...because it is, of course, very good...BUT the end is what i want to talk about. I'm a guy so it humbles me a little to make the following comment: It makes you so happy to see that Lassie has overcome the most impossible odds just to meet Joe at school, Ya just start bawling like a lil baby! they will be some of the happiest tears you'll ever cry. 9 out of 10 just because the end makes up for any downfalls the movie might have!(not that it has many)

You've got Roddy McDowell, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elsa Lanchester (the bride of Frankenstein) together to produce what is probably remembered as the dog movie of all time. We all know Lassie now, but she was introduced here. When the family cannot afford to keep her, the beautiful collie is sold to Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson), a rich Duke. But she becomes despondent and Taylor decides it would be best if she were let go. Lassie goes through obstacle after obstacle, beaten and run through briars, on and on. Her endurance is what this is all about. Roddy is quite good as the young boy who loses his dog. The final scene is probably one of the biggest tear jerkers ever.

'Lassie Come Home' is the classic first tale of Lassie, and this film is based on the novel by Eric Knight. This story is about the bond between a boy and his dog. Lassie is sold by the boy's father because of hard times, and Lassie makes a long journey to be back at her master's side again. It's a touching and beautiful story for children, and it was my favourite story for a while when I was much, much younger. I have forgotten much of this story now, but I have not forgotten how much I used to watch this film, over and over again on the old VHS. I think that all children should have the opportunity to watch 'Lassie Come Home'.

I was expecting to hate this film. After all it's a kids film (I'm 37). I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it! It's one of those few films that works for both adults and children. It's in color (which was rare in the early 1940s), has a simple story and never becomes too sentimental or childish. It's particularly fun seeing Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowall as children; Elsa Lancaster as roddy's mother(!!!); and Nigel Bruce NOT playing Doctor Watson for once and actually proving he could be gruff and aggressive in a performance. Best of all though, is Lassie. I don't know how they did it, but the dog (actually a male dog named Pal) gives in an astonishing performance. Just the expressions on her(his) face tells you what she(he) is thinking! Also has a great ending that is very moving (in a good way). Very well woth seeing. Only complaint--the color in this film is so washed out! Why doesn't someone restore it?