View source for Old Yeller (film)

{{short description|1957 American film}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Old Yeller
| image          = Old Yeller (1957 film poster).jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Robert Stevenson (director)|Robert Stevenson]]
| producer       = [[Walt Disney]]
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Old Yeller]]''|[[Fred Gipson]]}}
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* Fred Gipson
* [[William Tunberg (screenwriter)|William Tunberg]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Dorothy McGuire]]
* [[Fess Parker]]
* [[Jeff York]]
* [[Tommy Kirk]]
* [[Kevin Corcoran]]
* [[Beverly Washburn]]
* [[Chuck Connors]]
}}
| music          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Oliver Wallace]]
* [[Will Schaefer]]
}}
| cinematography = [[Charles P. Boyle]]
| editing        = Stanley E. Johnson
| color_process  = [[Technicolor]]
| studio         = [[Walt Disney Pictures|Walt Disney Productions]]
| distributor    = [[Buena Vista Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|1957|12|25}}
| runtime        = 84 minutes
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = $6.25 million (U.S./Canada rentals)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=All-Time Top Grossers |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 8, 1964 |page=69}}</ref>
}}
'''''Old Yeller''''' is a 1957 American [[Western film|Western]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]] directed by [[Robert Stevenson (director)|Robert Stevenson]] and produced by [[Walt Disney]]. It stars [[Dorothy McGuire]] and [[Fess Parker]], with [[Tommy Kirk]], [[Kevin Corcoran]], and [[Chuck Connors]]. It is about a boy and a stray dog in post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] Texas. The film is based upon the 1956 [[Old Yeller|novel of the same name]] by [[Fred Gipson]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith-Rodgers |first=Sheryl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210191244/http://www.americanprofile.com/article/29084.html |url=https://americanprofile.com/article/29084.html |title=Honoring Old Yeller |website=American Profile |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> Gipson also co-wrote the screenplay along with [[William Tunberg (screenwriter)|William Tunberg]].

''Old Yeller'' was released on December 25, 1957, to critical acclaim, and was a commercial success, becoming the [[1957 in film|fifth highest-grossing film of 1957]] and earning $6.25 million in the United States and Canada. The film's success led to a 1963 sequel, ''[[Savage Sam (film)|Savage Sam]]'', which was based [[Savage Sam (novel)|on a 1962 book]] by Gipson. In 2019, the film was selected for preservation into the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite news|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|title=National Film Registry Adds 'Purple Rain', 'Clerks', 'Gaslight' & More; 'Boys Don't Cry' One Of Record 7 Pics From Female Helmers|url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/national-film-registry-2019-record-female-directors-boys-dont-cry-purple-rain-clerks-gaslight-platoon-full-list-1202806279/|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>

== Plot ==
<!-- WP:FILMPLOT recommends the plot summary to be between 400-700 words. -->
In the late 1860s, Jim Coates leaves his family—wife Katie, teenage son Travis, and small son Arliss—to sell cattle in Kansas. While Jim is away, Travis sets off to work in the cornfield, where he encounters a [[Black Mouth Cur]] he names "Old Yeller", as "yeller" is a [[dialect]] pronunciation of "yellow" and the dog's bark resembles a human yell. Travis unsuccessfully tries to shoo the dog away, while Arliss defends him. Yeller's habit of stealing meat from [[smokehouse]]s and robbing hens' nests does not endear him to Travis, but his mother agrees with the idea of Arliss having a dog.

Later, Arliss tries to capture a [[American black bear|black bear]] cub by feeding it [[cornbread]] and grabbing it. Its angry mother hears her cub wailing and attacks, but Old Yeller frightens her away, winning over the family. Travis grows to love and respect Old Yeller, who comes to profoundly affect the boy's life.

Bud Searcy and his granddaughter, Lisbeth, come for supper one day, and Lisbeth takes Travis aside to tell him Old Yeller has been stealing food all over the county. After she and Bud leave, Travis scolds Old Yeller. The next day, Old Yeller proves himself as a cow dog by protecting Travis from Rose, their cow, and restraining her while Travis milks her.

One day, Old Yeller's original master, Burn Sanderson, arrives looking for his dog. Realizing that the Coates family really needs Old Yeller, he agrees to trade him to Arliss for a [[desert horned lizard|horny toad]] and a home-cooked meal. Sanderson later takes Travis aside and warns him of the growing plague of hydrophobia ([[rabies]]).

One day, Travis sets out to trap a family of [[feral hogs]]. Advised by Bud Searcy, he sits in a tree, trying to rope them from above as Old Yeller corners them. However, Travis then falls into the group of hogs and is attacked by one. Old Yeller defends Travis as he crawls away with an injured leg. Old Yeller is severely injured by the hog and Travis hides him in a large hole. Travis' mother then retrieves Old Yeller and uses mule hair to suture his wounds. As Old Yeller recovers, Searcy warns the Coates family of hydrophobia in the area but Katie chastises him for trying to scare Travis. Searcy leaves, and Lisbeth stays with the Coateses to help them harvest corn. Travis assures Katie that the hogs were not rabid, and both he and Old Yeller recover.

Later, the family sees their cow, Rose, stumbling and foaming at the mouth. Travis confirms that she is rabid and shoots her. While Katie and Lisbeth burn her body that night, a [[wolf]] suddenly attacks them. Katie's scream alerts Travis, who runs outside with a [[rifle]], just in time to see Old Yeller fighting off the wolf. Travis successfully shoots the wolf, but not before Old Yeller is bitten by it. Katie tells Travis that because no healthy wolf would attack near a burning area, the wolf was rabid. Katie then suggests shooting Old Yeller, but Travis insists that they instead pen him in the [[corn crib]] to see if he shows symptoms of the disease. After remaining quarantined, the Coateses believe that Old Yeller escaped infection. One night, Travis goes to feed Old Yeller, only to notice he has rabies. Travis suspects that Old Yeller may have been infected but says nothing. Katie tells Travis that Old Yeller is suffering and brings the rifle with her. Travis takes it, reluctantly kills Old Yeller, and departs.

Stricken with grief, Travis declines a new puppy sired by Old Yeller. Jim then returns with money and gifts for the family. Katie tells him about the dog, and Jim discusses it with Travis. Upon returning to the farmhouse, Travis observes the puppy stealing a piece of meat, a habit inherited from Old Yeller. Travis then accepts the puppy, "Young Yeller", as his new dog.

==Cast==
[[File:TommyKirkFessParker.jpg|thumb|Promotional photo of [[Tommy Kirk]] and [[Fess Parker]] during filming.]]
* [[Spike (dog actor)|Spike]] as Old Yeller
* [[Fess Parker]] as Jim Coates
* [[Dorothy McGuire]] as Katie Coates
* [[Tommy Kirk]] as Travis Coates
* [[Kevin Corcoran]] as Arliss Coates
* [[Jeff York]] as Bud Searcy
* [[Beverly Washburn]] as Lisbeth Searcy
* [[Chuck Connors]] as Burn Sanderson

==Production==
Tommy Kirk later said "Fess Parker, at that time, was on the outs with Disney—I presume over money. This was simply his last contractual obligation and he only worked about three days on this film, but good, competent, professional that he is, he came in and did it. I think he helps the movie a lot. l liked Fess Parker very much; he was very nice to me."<ref name="kirk">{{cite journal |last=Valley |first=Richard|year=1993 |title=Just an Average Joe (Hardy): An Interview with Tommy Kirk|trans-title= |journal=[[Scarlet Street (magazine)|Scarlet Street]] |issue=10 |pages=60–69 at p 64 |access-date=October 12, 2021|url=https://archive.org/details/27_20240920/10%20/page/64/mode/1up?view=theater |archive-url= |archive-date= }}</ref>

==Comic book adaptation==
The film was adapted into a 1957 comic book published by [[Dell Comics]]. It was issue #869 of ''[[Four Color]]'' comic series, and was reprinted in 1965.

In 1959 Japan also released a comic adaption, drawn by Leiji Matsumoto. It is considered very rare nowadays.<ref>https://twitter.com/Keihound/status/1712297665629917517 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
During its initial theatrical run, ''Old Yeller'' earned $5.9 million in box office rentals from the United States and Canada.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/variety213-1959-01/page/n45/ |title=Top Grossers of 1958 |magazine=Variety |date=January 7, 1959 |page=48 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> The film was re-released in 1965, and earned an estimated $2 million in domestic rentals.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top Grossers of 1965 |magazine=Variety |date=January 5, 1966 |page=36}}</ref>

===Critical reaction===
[[Bosley Crowther]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the film's performers and called the film "a nice little family picture" that was a "lean and sensible screen transcription of Fred Gipson's children's book". He further described the film as a "warm, appealing little rustic tale [that] unfolds in lovely color photography. Sentimental, yes, but also sturdy as a hickory stick."<ref>{{cite news |last=Crowther |first=Bosley |authorlink=Bosley Crowther |date=December 26, 1957 |title=Screen: Shameful Incident of War |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/12/26/archives/screen-shameful-incident-of-war-paths-of-glory-has-premiere-at.html |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine felt the "action, in short, is exciting for everybody, but all too often the dialogue is only for the very young", but they heralded the film as being "for the kids that adults will stay to enjoy themselves. ''Old Yeller'' propounds a major tenet of Disney philosophy: a dog should be a dog, and a boy should act like a man."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,868214-2,00.html |title=Cinema: The Old Pictures |magazine=Time |page=90 |date=January 20, 1958 |access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref>

''[[Harrison's Reports]]'' wrote the film "is fine entertainment for all, even though it has a special appeal for the children".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/harrisonsreports39harr/page/n213/mode/2up |title='Old Yeller' with Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker and Tommy Kirk |magazine=Harrison's Reports |page=182 |date=November 16, 1957 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> John L. Scott of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised the two child actors for "their naturalness and ability", as well as Spike the dog, writing that he "may be well be the next movie star dog". In summary, he wrote that "[t]he production is not a great one; but it will bring families back to the theater."<ref>Scott, John L. (December 26, 1957). [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/381206599/ {{" '}}Old Yeller' Tale of Dog and Family"]. ''Los Angeles Times''. Part III, p. 14. Retrieved January 9, 2021 – via [[Newspapers.com]]. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136283345/ Clipping] at Newspapers.com.</ref>

===Legacy===
''Old Yeller'' went on to become an important cultural film for [[baby boomers]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.angelo.edu/services/communications_marketing/06aug/08-31-06.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401145316/http://www.angelo.edu/services/communications_marketing/06aug/08-31-06.php |title=WTC to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Old Yeller with Program, Exhibit |publisher=[[Angelo State University]] |url-status=dead |date=August 31, 2006 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref> with Old Yeller's death in particular being remembered as one of the most tearful scenes in cinematic history. On the review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an [[List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes|approval rating of 100%]] based on 22 reviews, with a [[weighted average]] of 8.20/10. The critical consensus reads: "''Old Yeller'' is an exemplary coming of age tale, packing an emotional wallop through smart pacing and a keen understanding of the elemental bonding between humanity and their furry best friends".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/old_yeller/ |title=Old Yeller (1957) |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=March 23, 2022}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|84|6|ref=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/old-yeller/|access-date=6 January 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Yeller |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/old-yeller/ |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref> One critic cited it as "among the best, if not THE best" of the boy-and-his-dog films.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtown.com/reviews/old-yeller/1103/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142006/http://www.dvdtown.com/reviews/old-yeller/1103/2 |website=DVDTown |title=Old Yeller - Special Edition |url-status=dead |date=December 16, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref> Critic Jeff Walls wrote:

<blockquote>''Old Yeller'', like ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' and ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'', has come to be more than just a movie; it has become a part of our culture. If you were to walk around asking random people, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who did not know the story of Old Yeller, someone who didn't enjoy it or someone who didn't cry. The movie's ending has become as famous as any other in film history.<ref>{{cite web |last=Walls |first=Jeff |title=Old Yeller |url=http://www.allmovieportal.com/m/1957_Old_Yeller63.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012223655/http://www.allmovieportal.com/m/1957_Old_Yeller63.html |url-status=dead |website=All Movie Portal |date=October 12, 2008 |archive-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref></blockquote>

== Sequel ==
<!-- WP:FILMSEQUEL recommends the sequel summary to be between 400-700 words. -->
In 1963, Walt Disney Productions released [[Savage Sam (film)#Plot|''Savage Sam'']], the sequel to ''Old Yeller'' adapted from the book written by the same author, Fred Gipson.  Norman Tokar directed the live-action movie, but it did not enjoy the success of its predecessor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savage Sam (film) |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savage_Sam_(film)#Plot}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of American films of 1957]]
* ''[[Savage Sam (film)|Savage Sam]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news|last=Harford|first=Margaret|title='Old Yeller' Family Treat|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Mirror]]|place=[[Los Angeles]]|date=1957-12-26|page=Part B p. 4}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136283812/ Clipping] at [[Newspapers.com]]

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Old Yeller}}
* {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/old-yeller}}
* {{IMDb title|0050798|Old Yeller}}
* {{TCMDb title|85527|Old Yeller}}

{{Robert Stevenson}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Old Yeller}}
[[Category:1957 films]]
[[Category:1950s children's films]]
[[Category:1957 drama films]]
[[Category:American adventure drama films]]
[[Category:American children's drama films]]
[[Category:American Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:1957 Western (genre) films]]
[[Category:Films about euthanasia]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:Animal adventure films]]
[[Category:Films about dogs]]
[[Category:Films adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Films based on American novels]]
[[Category:Films based on children's books]]
[[Category:Films directed by Robert Stevenson]]
[[Category:Films produced by Bill Anderson (producer)]]
[[Category:Films produced by Walt Disney]]
[[Category:Films set in Texas]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1860s]]
[[Category:Films set in the American frontier]]
[[Category:Films scored by Oliver Wallace]]
[[Category:Films about rabies]]
[[Category:Films about hunters]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:Walt Disney Pictures films]]
[[Category:1950s American films]]
[[Category:Old Yeller]]
[[Category:English-language Western (genre) films]]