A pleasing, typical Disney tale from the late 50's, whilst "Old Yeller" boasts nothing either remarkable or original, its laid-back story and its simple approach is bound to please younger, less demanding children. Meanwhile, the truly dated yet lighthearted and entertaining aspects of this western-set movie are bound to both amuse and appeal to the adults, resuting in a warm, gentle little tale.
The "Old Yeller" of the title, is, in fact, a stray dog, which, after one day being discovered by a young teenager (Tommy Kirk), quickly befriends and becomes part of family life in the west. The family, in fact, consists of Kirk, his brother (Kevin Corcocan), and their mother, Dorothy McGuire. Father, meanwhile, has gone away on business, with the promise of returning in some months on horse and cart. During his departure, the two boys and their mother incur a series of ups and downs, most of which involve their newfound doggy friend, making him a true part of the family.
"Old Yeller" could be to blame (Or, perhaps, credited) for creating so many conventions that nearly every 'Doggy' movie made since seems to follow (e.g. "K9," or "Turner and Hooch). For instance, whilst the central characters eventually develop a close and loving relationship with the brave little dog, this is not the case in the initial scenes where the mutt makes his appearance, leading the way for a series of sequences where we witness a number of scornful feuds and fights. Also, without giving away too much of "Old Yeller's" narrative, in nearly every case, the dog in a 'Doggy movie' always seem to meet a
nasty ending. "Old Yeller" is no exception.
Fred Gipson's screenplay never even remotely hides its novel's origins, and later scenes feel like a chapter from a book. This is mainly because rather than being made up of one main narrative, "Old Yeller" is divided up into numerous plots, including the dog having a fight with a bear, and, facing the consequences of being taken away by his real owner when he comes to fetch him some time later.
There's little here to impress in the way of animal tricks or stunts, although several of the attack sequences hold some impact. It's obvious that camera trickery and smart editing are more dominant in this movie than anything else; during the many scenes involving humans and animals, it is rare that they're seen in the same frame.
There is no denying that "Old Yeller" is a dated movie, and this is probably most evident with the amazingly dated and silly sounding opening song. Even so, it's all undeniably nice to look at, and boasts the typical morals that most Disney pictures made around this time contain. And, with a running time at just over eighty minutes, its unlikely you'll get bored. All in all, a nice, warm little film.
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