Old Yeller is a classic, family friendly film, released in 1957, and now streaming on Disney+ and Prime.
Set in 1869 in post-Civil War frontier Texas. It has at its center a relationship between a boy, Travis Coates (Tommy Kirk), and a stray dog that he names Old Yeller.
In the opening scenes we see Travis’ father, Jim (Fess Parker), about to leave for Kansas to buy cattle. While he is gone, Travis and his younger brother, Artiss (Kevin Corcoran), work the cornfields and it’s there that Travis encounters a stray Black Mountain cur.
Initially, he tries to chase the dog away, but when it saves his brother from a bear that is defending her cubs, he changes his mind about the courageous dog, and the brothers bring it home, not realizing the impact it will have on their lives.
One evening, a neighbor, Bud Searchy (Jeff York), and his granddaughter, Lizbeth, come to dinner and Lisbeth, close to Travis in age, tells him that Old Yeller has been stealing food throughout the county. Hearing this, Travis, concerned, scolds the dog.
One day, Old Yeller’s previous owner, Bud Sanderson (Chuck Connors), stops by, looking for the dog. Realizing that the boys have grown attached to the dog, he agrees to swap Old Yeller for a good home cooked meal. Bud also warns the boys that there is a plague of hydrophobia in the area and to keep an eye on their animals, including the dog.
Not long thereafter, Old Yeller is attacked by a feral pig and wounded. Concerned, his injury is treated by Travis’ mom, Katie (Dorothy McGuire), and the boy insists that the hog is not rabid. But the threat of rabies remains as a subplot throughout the story.
Early one morning, Travis spots their cow, Rose, stumbling about the yard, its mouth foaming, and he is forced to get the family rifle and shoot Rose. Katie and Lizbeth, who is visiting, burn the body; however while doing disposing of the cow, a wolf comes on the property and surprisingly attacks them. Old Yeller fights the wolf off, but in the process, is bitten.
Katie is certain that the wolf was rabid, and regretfully insists that Old Yeller must be shot. Travis pleads for the dog’s life, suggesting that they put him in a pen and wait to determine if it has any symptoms of the disease. Reluctantly, Katie agrees, and so they wait.
The tension builds, and Travis, worried, visits the pen daily with hope and food. How the final act turns out is what makes this fine Disney film compelling. Kids, 8+ and older, will be captivated by the story, made in stunning color with just the right amount of action and heart-rending moments.
Old Yeller. Directed by Robert Stevenson. Starring Dorothy McGuire, Tommy Kirk, Fess Parker. 1 hr., 25 min. Rated G. Released in 1957. Streaming on Fandango/Disney+/prime/apple tv.