CHALLENGE TO LASSIE

US, 1949, 85 minutes, Colour.
Edmund Gwenn, Donald Crisp, Geraldine Brooks, Reginald Owen, Alan Napier, Henry Stephenson, .
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Challenge to Lassie is one of several films made in the later part of the 1940s, capitalising on the popularity of Lassie. Lassie appeared first of all in Lassie Come Home in 1943, directed by Fred Wilcox. It was a star vehicle for Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy Mc Dowall as well as for introducing the popular collie, Lassie.

Capitalising on wartime themes, Lassie appeared in Son of Lassie with Peter Lawford as well as The Courage of Lassie. There were other popular films like The Sun Comes Up with Jeanette Mc Donald and The Hills of Home with Janet Leigh and Tom Drake.

There were later television series and several films starring Lassie.

This film might have been called Greyfriars Lassie because it is based on the popular novel, Greyfriars Bobby. It tells the story of the faithful dog found as a pup by a shepherd, Donald Crisp, who looks after it and the dog forms an attachment. Edmund Gwenn is the innkeeper who befriends the dog and defence it in court when it is considered a stray and therefore no one could pay the owner’s licence fee because there is no owner. The consequence is that the dog is to be destroyed after three days.

In the meantime, when the old man dies and is buried in Greyfriars Cemetery, Lassie goes every day to stay at the grave. This disturbs Mr Brown, the keeper of the cemetery, but he relents and is helped by his daughter, Geraldine Brooks, to protect the dog. The two veteran actors, both Oscar winners for Best Supporting Actor, and joined by a great number of character actors from the 1930s, most sporting Scots accents.

The recreation of Edinburgh is certainly studio bound but there are colourful outdoor scenes. The film was directed by Richard Thorpe, who worked at MGM for several decades, directing all kinds of films, especially action films and costume dramas.

1. The appeal of Lassie, in the 1940s, the many films, the later television series and films, perennially popular?

2. The Greyfriars Bobby story and its adaptation for Lassie? The city of Edinburgh, the studio sets? The outdoor countryside and its beauty? The human story, the old man, the dog, the bond between them, the dog keeping vigil, the police and the opposition, the laws of Edinburgh to destroy stray dogs, the children’s support, Mr Trail and his appearance in court?

3. The shepherd, reminiscing about his work, finding the dog, seeing its breeding, wanting the man to mind the dog, his change of heart, the discussions with Mr Trail? Going back home, the return to the city, his intention of branching out on his own? The thugs and their beating him? His death? His burial? Lassie continually at the grave?

4. Mr Brown, not wanting the dog in the cemetery, his daughter being kindly, her attraction to Mr Trail’s son? The offer of the reward? Mr Brown bringing the dog to Mr Trail? The later agreement for the dog to be in the cemetery? The Sunday service, the Dominie and his going for a walk, in the cemetery, knowing the dog was in the box, his benign attitude towards the discussions about its fate? And his appearance in the court? The children coming and playing with Lassie? The children collecting the money to buy the licence?

5. Mr Davie, the stern policeman, no humour, his taking Lassie in, the discussions with the police and the law? Lassie escaping, going with the military and the parade, the soldiers liking him? Liking her? The bugle, Lassie going down the side of the mountain, returning to the cemetery?

6. The protest, the guest from London, their being impressed by Lassie? In the court, the rigidity of the law, the promise trying to explain it to the children? The children’s reactions? Mr Trail and his appeal? Mr Brown, the Dominie? Mr Trail’s son trying to find some regulation?

7. Lassie in court, the solution with giving Lassie the keys of the city, the Freedom? And the irony of Mr Davie having to answer the questions of passers-by at the cemetery?

8. The appeal to children and to adults of this kind of story?