GOODBYE MY LADY

US, 1956, 95 minutes, Black and White.
Brandon de Wilde, Walter Brennan, Phil Harris, Sidney Poitier, William Hopper, Louise Beavers.
Directed by William Wellman.

Goodbye My Lady is a pleasing film of a boy and his dog set in the southern states of the U.S.A. It has a genial performance by Walter Brennan, doing his 'old man' routine very well, as Uncle Jesse. Brandon de Wilde, who made such an impression in Member of the Wedding and Shane, is good as the orphan boy. There is support from Phil Harris and Sidney Poitier in an early role, foreshadowing the kind of role he was to play especially in the '60s. Direction is by William Wellman, noted for his westerns and action films. There is a very pleasing score of guitar and harmonica and fine black and white photography by William Clothier. The film is a welcome blend of family entertainment and sentiment, American style.

1. An entertaining film? For what audience? American audience, universal audience? Families?

2. The popularity of films about boys and their dogs? The conventions of the family setting, the finding of the dog and training it, the crisis in having to let it go? The bond between boy and dog? Audience interest in, identification with such a plot?

3. Black and white photography, the locations and the atmosphere of the South? The score and the blend of guitar and harmonica?

4. Audience involvement in the plot - the introduction to Claude and his Uncle Jesse? Their situation in the South, home, relationship, orphan? The sounds in the night., the discovery of the strange dog? Jesse's homespun philosophy, his inability to read? His love for the boy? Mr. Cash and his interest in the family, help for Claude? Uncle Jesse and the saw and pretending that it wouldn't work? The finding of the dog, Claude gaining its confidence? Training it? Gates and his advice? The setting of the dog to hunt, his killing the chicken, his pointing the birds at long distances? Mr. Cash's amazement? The crowds coming and offering food? The repercussions for Jesse and Claude? The discovery of the truth, Claude's crisis and his final decision? His reward. his help for his uncle. the taking over of Mr. Cash's dog? A credible story. pleasing, values?

5. The film's focus on Claude - his background, capacity for reading, his nickname -Skeeter? His bond with Jesse? His gaining of the dog's confidence, the long sequences in training it, feeding it? Mr. Cash and his dog? The discussion with Gates - and the inter-racial themes? The success of the dog? Calling it 'Lady'? The discovery of the truth, Claude's coping with it? Having to grow up (symbolised by the black coffee), his handing over of the dog, taking it the truck? How would this experience stand by him?

6. Uncle Jesse as a man of the South, his suspicion of Yankees? The friendship with Cash? His love for the boy, standing by him, the bets? His discussion with the visitor from the North to retrieve the dog? A genial portrait of a man?

7. Mr. Cash and his place in the town, his shop, his pride in his dog, calling it after Millard Fillmore? His losing of the bets? His communication of the truth? Standing by Claude? Giving him the dog at the end?

8. Sidney Poitier's style as Gates - genial character, information about the African dog. help for Claude? Sympathetic racial themes?

9. Audience interest in the dog itself - its strange behaviour, its special capacities, the bond between Claude and Lady? The discovery of the background, its real name, its value?

10. How well did the film blend sentiment and feeling and themes of a boy's growing up and making decisions? A satisfying resolution?