COURAGE OF LASSIE

US, 1946, 92 minutes. Colour.
Lassie, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, Tom Drake, Selina Royle, Harry Davenport, Catherine Mc Leod, Morris Ankrum.
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox.

Courage of Lassie is the follow-up film to Lassie Come Home (also directed by Wilcox) and Son of Lassie. In this film Lassie has top billing, before the title. However, it is not a Lassie story because Lassie portrays the mother of a litter of pups as well as Bill, the central character of the film.

The film was made in Washington state, in very bright colours. There is an almost twenty minutes opening with a look at flora and fauna in the Washington state, something like Bambi land. Eventually, a dog gives birth to a litter, one of them is left out and is picked up by a little girl, played by Elizabeth Taylor.

The dog’s name is Bill. He is hit by a truck, is drafted into the army, is trained and sees action, becomes traumatised, escapes from a moving train, returns home – but has seriously violent tendencies. He alarms the people of the town who want him put down. However, Frank Morgan as Kathie’s friend defends the dog in court, giving a long explanation of what would be called post-traumatic stress syndrome. He saves the day and Elizabeth Taylor gets Bill back.

Plenty of ingredients here for dog lovers – Lassie (Pal in real life) who appeared in a number of films, Elizabeth Taylor as a young girl, and Frank Morgan being a genial old man. Fred Wilcox also directed Forbidden Planet.

1. The popularity of Lassie? Lassie Come Home? Elizabeth Taylor in that film? A reprise?

2. Washington state, the beauty of the mountains and the countryside? The opening twenty minutes and all the animals? The contrast between the military training and military service? The musical score?

3. The title, the reference to Bill rather than Lassie? Growing up, cared for by Kathie? The accident? Finding himself in the army, the training, showing courage and fighting? The effect on him and the escape?

4. Kathie, the young girl, finding the dog, bringing it up, grieved at his disappearance? The return, her trying to deal with him? The reaction of the people? The court case and the hearing, the reuniting of dog and little girl?

5. Harry, his life in the town, strong character, friendship with Kathie? Concern for the dogs? The return of Bill, his speech in the court, the importance of stressing the effect of war, giving a war veteran returning a second chance?

6. The people in the town, their reactions to Bill, the harm? Wanting him put down? Their change of heart when they hear Harry’s speech?

7. The army sequences, the training, the dogs in the war, the action, the effect on them? Bill and his escape? The personalities of the soldiers, the trainer, Smitty?

8. The happy ending, dogs and their friendship, their service to humanity? Audiences enjoying stories of dogs as friends and companions? Loyalty? Action and defence?