Old Yeller

In 1860s Texas, the Coates family struggles to keep their ranch going, so the father, Jim, leaves his wife and two sons to join a cattle drive that will take him away for months. That leaves fifteen-year-old Travis in charge of the household and the heavy work, a responsibility he takes seriously. When a yellow mongrel wanders onto the property, Travis wants nothing to do with him, but his younger brother Arliss grows attached to the dog, and the family ends up keeping him. The dog earns his place by guarding the ranch, hunting and repeatedly proving useful to the family, and Travis gradually comes to care for him. The dog's original owner eventually turns up, and other dangers test the family's bond with the animal.

The film was directed by Robert Stevenson, the fourth of the fourteen films he directed in chronological order, arriving between Dishonored Lady and Darby O'Gill and the Little People. Walt Disney produced, and the screenplay was written by William Tunberg and Fred Gipson. Tommy Kirk plays Travis, with Dorothy McGuire as his mother, Fess Parker as his father, Kevin Corcoran as Arliss, Jeff York and Beverly Washburn in supporting roles.

Made by Walt Disney Productions on a budget of 22 million dollars, the film runs 84 minutes. It holds a 7.2 rating on IMDb from over fourteen thousand votes and a 6.9 on TMDB from a much smaller number, while its critics' rating stands at 8.2 from 22 reviews.