 | |
List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 8381
Released: November 7, 2006 |
| Our Price: $9.45 |
| Used Price: $8.35 |
|
MPAA Rating: G (General Audience)
Media: DVD |
|
| Features:
Closed-captioned Color DVD NTSC | |
Editorial Review:
The devoted collie escapes kennel captivity (with help from young Elizabeth Taylor) and braves storms and peril to return home to Roddy McDowall in the all-time classic Lassie Come Home (Disc 1/Side A). Courage runs in the family in Son of Lassie (Disc 1/Side B), as Lassie's progeny stows away on a World War II Allied bombing run piloted by RAF airman Peter Lawford. Wartime heroics are again at the forefront in Courage of Lassie (Disc 2), starring Taylor and shot on beautiful Canadian locations.
Description of Lassie Come Home/Son of Lassie/Courage of Lassie:
Lassie Come Home is a classic for all the usual reasons: its timeless, universal appeal, its first-of-its-kind status, and its exceptional cinematography, direction, and performances. What makes this 1943 charmer especially fun for grownups who haven't screened it since their own preteen, pet-obsessed days, though, is a couple of cute-as-a-button cast members. An adorably over-earnest Roddy McDowall stars as Joe, the mostly hapless lad whom Lassie refuses to part with despite his down-and-out family's decision to sell her, for a paltry 15 guineas, to a wealthy duke; and Elizabeth Taylor, already stunning at around age 10, surrenders a sweet if mawkish performance as Priscilla, the Duke's tenderhearted granddaughter, who lends a hand in Lassie's escape from her family's unkind kennel master and winks her way into winning the fearless pup a permanent place at her true master's side. Beyond that, it's no mystery why generations of dog-loving audiences have marveled at the precocious collie's career--Lassie is a great actor. She so convincingly digs impossible trenches, leaps towering fences, swims raging rivers, knocks out bad guys, and betrays the essence of brokenheartedness with her bedraggled coat and woebegone expressions that it's sometimes hard to shake the suspicion that she's really an incredibly limber person in a cute dog suit. All told, Lassie Come Home delivers a lot to love, not the least of which is the deeply dramatic score--quirky sounding to the modern ear--which returns audiences to simpler, irony-free times, as does the movie's message of loyalty at all costs. --Tammy La Gorce
Lassie Come Home/Son of Lassie/Courage of Lassie Reviews:
Hollywood does it's worst! 
2009-08-31 - I was really disappointed when I watched this film recently and compared it to it's 2005 remake. Normally, I'm an avid fan of the original film as in many cases, despite the limited technology available at the time, the originals have a higher standard of acting and the characters manage to be more real and vibrant. However, with this wishy-washy Technicolor version. the cast seem wooden and unable to communicate the slightest essence of a Yorkshire mining village to the viewer. So much so, that another reviewer is under the impression that this film is about a Scottish mining family, rather one from Yorkshire. The plot is based on the purchase of the dog, it being re-located to Scotland and its long journey home to Yorkshire.
The dog is the only actor that plays its/her role with any degree of believability, and I believe that the film is relying on Technicolor to lift it out of the ruck during a time of war-time bleakness. Ignore this version and go for the 2005 "Lassie", which is a mite more true to life if not up to Academy Award standard.
Great Movie with great star! 
2009-07-24 - How can you not love a movie that stars the one true great star of all times; Lassie! With natural Collie traits and a keen intelligence the great Lassie does all the stunts and makes you believe it's all possible. The humans are predictable but excellent in supporting roles. For young childred today this would be an excellent family movie. For Collie lovers it's one of the great Collie Movies. For all others, it's a classic.
A great deal at a great price
2009-06-22 - I got my DVD just a few days after the order. It is in perfect condition. Just what I was looking for and at a wonderful price! I could not be more pleased, once again, with Amazon. Thank you!
Timeless Classic 
2009-03-10 - If you are a baby boomer you probably saw this when you were a kid. It still holds up as a classic feel good movie. Of course the star is the dog and the dog's acting is impeccable.
Original Lassie Movies
2008-10-13 - What a deal - the first three original "Lassie" movies in one case. These movies are so wholesome with wonderful scenery and fine acting. The "modern" adaptations are okay, but these are the BEST!
