Lassie
“Lassie”, written and directed by Charles Sturridge, takes us back to the original story of the love between a young boy and his dog, and scores a C+…
Most Americans remember the 1943 MGM movie titled “Lassie Come Home” starring Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Following in the 50’s is the TV series “Lassie” (1954-74) starring Tommy Retting (played Jeff Miller) and June Lockhart. In syndication such titles appeared as “Jeff’s Collie” and “Timmy & Lassie”. When Tommy Retting died, he was replaced by Jon Provost (who played Timmy) in 1957, with 591, 30-minute episodes being filmed between the two stars.
Both the movie and the TV series are based on Eric Knight’s 1940 novel called “Lassie Come Home” with its roots in Britain’s onset to World War II as the back drop. This version takes us back to the beginning in Britain, in the 30’s…
The story opens with a foxhunt through the narrow streets of a small town in near Yorkshire in northern England, led by the Duke of Rudling (Peter O’Toole). The fox runs through town, being chased by the foxhounds, into the mines where the majority of the men in town work. The men help the fox escape, and, we’re introduced to Sam John Lynch). Sam and his wife Sarah, have a 9 year old son, Joe (Jonathan mason) who’s pet is a Collie named Lassie. Joe is a lonely boy whose dog is his best friend. Lassie, who knows when she hears the church bell ring, its time for Joe to leave school, makes her way through the streets to meet Joe each day after school. The residents of the town know Lassie and nod as she makes her daily trek through the streets. The Duke sees Lassie and makes an offer to Sam for Lassie. The Duke wants Lassie for a present to his granddaughter Cilla (Hester Odgers). Sam refuses to sell, but as times get really tough when the mine is closed and out of work, Sam reluctantly agrees to sell Lassie, which breaks his son’s heart.
Lassie is shipped off to Scotland, 500 miles away, where the Duke’s granddaughter is staying and comes under the care of kennelman Hynes (Steve Pemberton) who is quiet abusive to Lassie as he tries break her spirit. After a few unsuccessful attempts at escape, with the subtle help of Cilla, Lassie makes her escape from the estate kennel and starts her journey from Scotland back to Joe. Along the way, Lassie meets a hosts of people, some nice and some, not so nice. Lassie crosses mountains, swamps, grasslands, and forestlands, sometimes almost starving to death, but pushes on to get home.
Solid performances, along with beautiful scenery, make this version of the Lassie classic very watchable. Interesting characters Lassie meets include two Loch Ness monster seekers, and a puppeteer named Rowlie (affectionately played by Peter Dinklage) who saves Lassie’s life. Samantha Morton and John Lynch as Joe’s parents are solid, and Jonathan Mason as Joe comes across as an average 9 year old and not an actor, who refuses to let go of his best friend. Peter O’Toole demonstrates why he’s an icon with a sometimes funny and serious side to the Duke. Other notable English actors include Edward Fox and Robert Hardy who are British staples in English films. This version of “Lassie”, under the direction of Charles Sturridge, is solid and unpretentious without getting too melodramatic with just the right balance between humor, action, and drama for an entertaining family film, for the whole family…