WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS
US, 2003, 86 minutes, Colour.
Joseph Ashton, Dave Matthews, René Feia, Mac Davis, Kris Kristofferson, Ned Beatty, Dabney Coleman.
Directed by Lyman Dayton, Sam Pillsbury.
Where the Red Fern Grows is based on very popular novel by Wilson Rawls. It was filmed in 1975 and proved very popular, with a Part 2 released in 1992. The producer of the first film wanted to re-make it at the beginning of the 21st century, but ran into financial difficulties, finally being rescued by producer, Bob Yari, and the New Zealand director, Sam Pillsbury being brought into complete the project.
The setting is Oklahoma, in the mid 30s, on a farm outside a small town. The central character is Billy Coleman (Joseph Ashton) who lives on the farm with his parents and two younger sisters. One of his great ambitions is to own two hunting dogs. He gets the opportunity, trains them to be skilful in their hunting racoons. There is a hunting competition in the town, some heroics by the young boy in forfeiting his chance to win but the winner handing the cup and the money to the boy. There is some pathos at the end when the dogs are confronted by a mountain lion.
The film features some veterans including Kris Kristofferson as the older Billy, Ned Beatty is the sheriff, and Dabney Coleman is the affectionate grandpa.
1. A popular story for younger audiences? A version for the 21st century?
2. Oklahoma, the farm, the river, the town, the woods? The sets and decor for the mid-1930s? Musical score?
3. The meaning of the title, the Indian legend of the children, their deaths in the snow, the red fern growing, never to be destroyed? A sacred site? The death of dogs, their being buried together, the new red fern?
4. Voice-over by the older Billie, Kris Kristofferson and his style? Encounter with the wounded dog? His memories? Recounting the past, never going back to visit?
5. The Coleman family, father, his hard work the farm, his wife and her diligence, Billy and his work, the lack of money, his mother educating him? The two sisters? The uncle, finding $1000 to put a deposit on his store, he’s going back his east?
6. Grandpa, his love of the family, helping Billy, the sweets? The possibility of buying the dog, the father and his two sons getting the dog instead of Billy, their nasty attitudes? The advertisement for the bloodhounds, Billy and his doing hard work, getting the money, meeting God halfway…?, Going to Grandpa, his journey, trespassing, the shots, into the town, the railway station, the kindly man providing the bag, walking through the town without shoes, the boys attacking him, the fight, the sheriff stepping in, the girl giving back the dogs, the sheriff and getting Billy’s clothes, shoes, the gifts for his parents, overalls, dress material, the sweets for the girls?
7. Billy’s care for the dogs, the collage of his training them, getting the raccoons, climbing the tree, Billy chopping it down, Grandpa selling the furs?
8. Grandpa, the dinner, the news about the competition, Billy and his wariness because of the death of the boy after the dog attacked? Deciding to enter?
9. The competition, Hodington and his champion dogs, the sheriff? The money? The finalists? Final, Grandpa breaking his leg, Billy going back, the three raccoons in the tree? Hodington winning, his acknowledging the truth, Billy’s courage, giving him, the money?
10. Billy hunting, the mountain lion, the attack, the dog being wounded, dying, the companion pining for him, not eating, going to the grave, dying? The
burials? The red fern?
11. The family oacking up, moving, the prospects for the future?
