bwwebtv
Hello Everyone, I watched the original movie at a Saturday matinée, when I was 12 years old.I also, just recently watched my very 1st. movie on Netflix and it was "Where The Red Fern Grows".I can not tell you, how many times, that I have watched this movie, over the last 42 years. This is how much I love this movie.The remake can not compare too the original movie. It left a life long impression on my heart and soul.There is not much more that I can say, that has not been said, over the years in other reviews, of this endearing, heart-warming movie.I may have one special advantage, over anyone else, I have had a 42 year old love affair with this movie.It was made in 1974 and for the time, I think it was well-made and they did their very best, too tug at your heart-strings.The only other movie or show, that would ever come close or even tie, is the show "The Waltons".I have also watched this show, since day one and also their original "Homecoming" movie.The original "Where The Red Fern Grows" and "The Waltons", have family values and morals and faith, that nothing is impossible, if you work hard and just believe.After watching this movie, as a young child, I became so much more of an animal lover. I will forever have the deepest respect and admiration for this movie.I very much look forward too the 50th. anniversary of "Where The Red Fern Grows". I will certainly buy the DVD.It would really be nice to have a special screening of the movie in our local theaters. It would be lovely to see it on the big screen, all over again.I will keep my fingers crossed, that it will happen. I just know it would make so many die-hard fans very happy and attract a whole new generation of admirers of this beloved movie.
rstelf
The 1974 version of "Where the Red Fern Grows" was shot in Tahlequah, OK at the time I was director of Theatre Tulsa, not far away. Norman Tokar, Director, came to me and asked if I would help find local children to be in the film, and I had about 200 of them sitting in my theater the next Sat. for him to choose from. He picked the two young girls from that bunch. As a gesture of appreciation, Norman gave me the role in the film that he had intended to play, himself -- the Stationmaster. Lyman Dayton, the producer, decided he'd make a new version some 25 or 30 years later, and he called me to ask if I'd reprise my role as Stationmaster in this new filming. I said, "Yes." It turned out that I was the only member of the original cast who repriced his role. There's a lot more to this story, but that'll suffice for now. Bob Telford
ollie501
MINOR SPOILERS WITHIN!Where the Red Fern Grows – Dir Norman Tokar -1974 Reviewed by Ollie
This is simple, well intentioned and instantly likeable film. Made in 1974, there are evident signs of the age of the film, but this works to its advantage. This is one of the classics. Perhaps not as famous as Old Yeller, it's `older brother', which also hailed from the Disney studio's, it is equally as likeable. Stewart Petersen does a terrific job as young Billy Coleman, and makes the character immensely likeable.The film follows Billy's life, as he desperately saves money to buy a pair of hunting dogs. It is evident that he leads a fairly poor, but honest life, and struggles with his decision to buy the dogs, as opposed to giving the money to his Father. On going to collect the dogs, he is stared at by the local folk, almost looked down upon, each one in turn glancing at this scruffy, barefoot young character as he enters `their world'. Picked on by local children, he befriends the local sheriff, who we meet again later in the film.There are some wonderful scenes, from his first encounter with his new found friends, as they lick his toes, and he gently picks them up for the first time, to the comical scene where he is training them, and they run, followed by three children, through the house, sliding every which way on their Mothers freshly cleaned kitchen floor, in a scene which borders farcical, but knows where to draw the line, in keeping the humour gentle.Billy is an idealistic young man, willing to take a beating and defy his mother, rather than break a promise to his dogs. All this makes him a very likeable, and identifiable character. This is further showed toward the end of the film, when his true courage and sportsmanship show themselves in a hunting competition.This is by no means a jolly film – it's a positive tearjerker, unashamedly so. There is a death, which in itself is only mildly instrumental to the plot, but serves Billy a valuable life lesson, and the viewer is left feeling his pain and sorrow.The end is equally sad, which I won't give away, but there is a beautiful closing shot as the camera pans away from the family, focusing on a single red fern….There are times when deep, clever plots, and intense dialogue serve no purpose, and this film is a shining example of this. It has no pretences about what it is. It is a lesson that true beauty is found in the simplicity and innocence of a child's world.It is quite simply, a nice film. I am not fond of the word `nice', but in this instance it serves well to describe the film. A great example that some of the older films, can still give modern Hollywood movies a run for their money. This does just that, and wins hands down all the way.Particular mention must also be made to the soundtrack, which is perfect for the film, and simply beautiful, from the gentle incidental music, to the lyrics in every song. I watched this anticipating it to be a little `ropey', and perhaps rough around the edges, given it is 30 years old. That anticipation was the only thing the film wasn't. It really is a polished gem of a movie, and one that I can recommend very highly. Sure it's a sappy, sentimental tearjerker – it doesn't pretend to be anything else, and for that, I loved it. A very well earned 10/10!
Ollie
