About Old Yeller

Old Yeller is a classic Disney film that was released in 1957. The movie, set in 1860s Texas, showcases the adventure of a loyal dog named Old Yeller. Yeller proves his worth by protecting his family from bears, wild hogs, and even a wolf with rabies. However, his confrontation with the rabid wolf ends with him being infected, leading to a heartbreaking ending when his owners are forced to put him down. The movie is renowned for its balance of family-friendly adventure and deep emotional themes.

Making / Production

Produced by Walt Disney Productions, the film was directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Fred Gipson and William Tunberg. The screenplay was based on Gipson's 1956 novel of the same name. Old Yeller was filmed in California, with natural settings serving as the Texan landscape.

Actors

• Tommy Kirk: He played Travis Coates, the eldest Coates son who takes responsibility for Old Yeller. Kirk's portrayal is both compassionate and emotionally stirring.
• Fess Parker: Parker played Jim Coates, the patriarch of the family. Parker gives a strong and sensitive performance as the father away on a cattle drive.
• Dorothy McGuire: McGuire played Katie Coates, the caring and stern matriarch who keeps the family together in the face of peril.
• Kevin Corcoran: Portrayed as Arliss Coates, the youngest of the Coates family. Corcoran brings child-like innocence and delight to the screen.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie's success led to a 1963 prequel, Savage Sam, which brought back most of the main cast from Old Yeller.
• Spike, the Labrador Retriever and Mastiff mix who played Old Yeller, was a rescue dog before he was a star.
• In 2019, Old Yeller was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Awards

Tommy Kirk won the 1958 Disney Channel Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor for his role in Old Yeller.

Quotes

• "I'll swear, a woman's mind and the winter wind change direction constantly." - Katie Coates
• “Now and then, for no good reason, life will haul off and knock a man flat.” - Jim Coates
• "But no matter, that was the year we got Old Yeller, and nothing that happened would have been the same without him." -Travis Coates

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's title song, "Old Yeller," was sung by Jerome Courtland, with music by Oliver Wallace and lyrics by Gil George.
• The film's music was orchestrated by Carl Brandt and conducted by Oliver Wallace.
• The rest of the soundtrack perfectly captures the rural setting, complete with rousing adventure themes and more somber melodies.