Courage of Lassie (1946)

Director:

Fred M. Wilcox

Writer:

Lionel Houser (original screenplay)

Release Date:

8 November 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Adventure | Family | War

Tagline:

As Refreshing As A Breath Of Spring !

Plot:

Bill's separated from his litter, making friends with the wild creatures until he's found and adopted by young Kathie...

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Lassie | Army | Military Life | Friendship

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor	...	Kathie Eleanor Merrick
Frank Morgan	...	Harry MacBain
Tom Drake	...	Sergeant Smitty
Selena Royle	...	Mrs. Merrick
Harry Davenport	...	Judge Payson
George Cleveland	...	Old Man
Catherine McLeod	...	Alice Merrick (as Catherine Frances McLeod)
Morris Ankrum	...	Farmer Crews
Mitchell Lewis	...	Gil Elson
Jane Green	...	Mrs. Elson
David Holt	...	Pete Merrick
Bill Wallace	...	Sergeant Mac (as William Wallace)
Minor Watson	...	Sheriff Ed Grayson
Donald Curtis	...	Charlie
Clancy Cooper	...	Casey

Also Known As:

Blue Sierra (USA) (copyright title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #10395) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Netherlands:6 (2008) | Germany:6 | Finland:S | USA:G | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Canada

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Although the title of the film suggests it, there is no mention of the character Lassie anywhere in the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bill's mother meets the boat, she is accompanied by three pups. But when it comes time to lift the dogs in, there are now four pups.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Three Daring Daughters (1948)

The Dog Days of Lassie

Lassie should have barked, "RE-WRITE!" during the third in the series, "Courage of Lassie". Elizabeth Taylor takes over the reigns as Lassie's owner. Obviously, the filmmakers were still not sure how to use Lassie as a name; so it's implied that the dog you love as Lassie is playing "Bill" (but it's really "Pal" playing "Lassie" playing "Bill"; and, it gets even more complicated in the film).

Since it is 1946, we'll just have to go along with Lassie being drafted; but, is this "Lassie Come Home from World War II" - is Lassie an unpatriotic deserter? Then, the poor dog comes down with Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome, becomes a killer, and goes on trial On the plus side: Lassie is terrific, as usual; the dog tries to make a bad script hunt. Elizabeth Taylor and the film look very nice in color; and, Frank Morgan feels like a good substitute for Donald Crisp, who was in the last Lassie film, and will be in the next one…

**** Courage of Lassie (1946) Fred M. Wilcox ~ Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, Tom Drake