SAVAGE SAM
US, 1963, 103 minutes, Colour.
Brian Keith, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Dewey Martin.
Directed by Norman Tokar.
Savage Sam is the sequel to Old Yeller, six years on. It has the same central characters, the boys played by Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran as well as Jeff York as old bud Searsi. However, while the screenplay is written by the same authors, William Tunberg and novelist Fred Gipson, the atmosphere is quite different.
The film is less mellow. Dorothy Maguire and Fess Parker are absent. The boys have grown up and have to fend for themselves. The hero is their Uncle Beck, played by Brian Keith (a veteran of many Disney Films). Sam, son of Yeller, is not such an attractive dog and the focus of attention is on a group of Indians and their capture of the youngsters. The films treatment of Indians also seems to be a throwback to much earlier days. (And Kevin Corcoran, this time, seems a loud mouthed brat rather than an attractive character). Veterans in the cast include Dewey Martin, Slim Pickins as well as Royal Dano as a bitter foe of the Indians. The film has attractive backgrounds, has a great deal of excitement, fine storm sequence.
1. Entertaining Disney family feature and adventure? The sequel to Old Yeller? Elements in common? Different elements?
2. Location photography, colour, landscapes? Life on the land? The action sequences? The storm? Stunt work and action? Musical score and theme song?
3. The title and the focus on Sam? His savagery, with the boys, helping the group, tracking the captives?
4. Travis and Arliss, from the previous film? Grown up? At home, work, Travis in charge? Arliss and his disobedience? Their clashes about breakfast, milking the cow Arliss throwing stones? their relationship with Uncle Beck and his wise advice? With Savage Sam? The visit of the Searsis? the Indians and their taking the horses? Going in pursuit? Travis as the reliable character? Arliss as irresponsible young brother? The attraction towards Lizabeth? The Indians in the attack? The capture, their treatment? Violence? The horses, the escape? The Indians taking Lizabeth and Arliss? Travis in pursuit with Uncle Beck and the men? The dangers, the storm? The final attack and the rescue? The portrait of the two brothers?
5. Uncle Beck, practical wisdom, being a younger brother, helping Arliss, helping Travis? Solving problems? The stolen horses, the pursuit of the Indians, with Travis and the
men? Handling the group, the storm, the loss of the tracks? Savage Sam and his help? The final confrontation?
6. Bud Searsi, the comic relief, his hunger? Anti-Indian? Lizabeth and her attraction to Travis? His pursuit of his daughter?
7. The members of the group, the horses, travelling together? Pack Underwood and his desperate hostility to the Indians, firing the first shot? Wiley Croup and his whining, wanting to go back? Lester White and his being glued to the Land? Travelling together, taking turns in running after they have picked up Travis? Their characters, on the land, attitudes towards the Indians?
8. The portrait of the Indians - partly sympathetic, partly poking fun, partly hostile? The behaviour of the Indians? The pursuit of the white men? The horses? Arliss and his attacks on the Indians?
9. A story of the American frontier designed for younger and family audiences?
