warning, a dog gets beaten and dies in this film this is NOT for young children. it is very dark. it is quite sad. it might be hard for them to understand the plot lines. a dog gets beaten and dies.
Completely in AWE! Wow! This film is true to the original story: authentic of life in Great Britian in pre WWII. The cinematography is fantastic--you want to climb right into the movie and be with Lassie. An exceptional film. As a side note, I show it to my students the day before winter vacation and they adore it! Some ask to borrow it over vaction to share with their families!Excellent version This version of "Lassie," is perhaps the best film adaptation of that classic, heart-wrenching animal adventure story. The British context, rife with class politics and working-class fatalism, is fully explored; the sweeping Scottish landscape is stunningly embraced, and, most important of all, the script and acting are quite good. Peter O'Toole is in fine form, and the collie playing Lassie is absolutely gorgeous. This is a lovely version of this well-known story, with no skimping on either production values or writing. Definitely recommended. (ReadThatAgain children's media reviews)One of the best Lassies ever Beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted by the cast - especially the dog, Mason, who is VERY expressive and responsive. As a long time Lassie fan and a long time dog trainer, this is the best. My kids loved it. It reflects perfectly the spirit of that first, old Roddy McDowell film, but this dog is a better actor, as much as I loved Pal! Great cinematography. Great acting from Samantha Morton, Jemma Redgrave and Peter O'Toole, but especially from the new child actors and Mason the Collie. Lovely work on the subtext of the class differences in 1940s Britain.
Great, great stuff. Too bad it didn't get more press in it's first release.
Good for kids old enough to understand animals and that death, sometimes, sadly, is part of life. Very uplifting ending.Good Dog ! Living in a small Yorkshire town on the eve of the Second World War ,the Carraclough parents (John Lynch and Samantha Morton)are forced by the impending loss of the father's livelihood caused by the closure of the coal mine upon which the local economy depends to sell their beloved family dog Lassie to the local landowner the Duke of Ruding(Peter O'Toole).He buys it as a gift for his beloved niece Cilla (Hester Odgers)who is missing her father ,now enlisted in the Army and fighting in France .This is against the wishes of both the dog and the Carracloughs small son Joe (Jonathan Mason).The dog escapes several times after suffering abuse at the hands of the kennelman Hynes (Steve Pemberton)and returns home ,until the Duke removes the dog and Cilla to his family estates in Scotland
Cilla who realises where Lassie's true affections lie helps the dog escape and Lassie sets out to travel the 500 miles back home .She has many adventures en route -an encounter with two monster watchers on Loch Ness (delightful cameos fron John Standing and Edward Fox),a Glaswegian dog catcher (Gregor Fisher)and a judge (Robert Hardy)a travelling puppeteer (Peter Dinklage on fine form)and two ne'er do wells (Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celyn Jones)whose plans for the dog are not exactly humane .Can she make it back home -and remain there ?
Charles Sturridge directs with a strong feeling for both the story and the landscape.The sense of period is strong and the moral backbone of the movie is firm .The score is traditional with lots of sweeping strings and tugging at the heartstrings.In short it is old school children's film making and can be enjoyed by all the family .It never resorts to cheap sentimentality and never patronises its audience .
The acting is spot on by all concerned O'Toole being specially good and the dog is delightful.It is a pity that this lovely little movie got swamped at the box office by giant apes ,cuddly penguins and talking lions
