Old Yeller
Seen it?1957 | 84 min | Adventure, Drama, Family, Western
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for adventure fans and families. If you loved Red River or News of the World, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Feel-good.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 24 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1957: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Young Travis Coates is left to take care of the family ranch with his mother and younger brother while his father goes off on a cattle drive in the 1860s. When a yellow mongrel comes for an uninvited stay with the family, Travis reluctantly adopts the dog.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 236K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Robert Stevenson
- Tommy KirkTravis Coates
- Dorothy McGuireKatie Coates
- Fess ParkerJim Coates
- Kevin CorcoranArliss Coates
- Jeff YorkBud Searcy
- Beverly WashburnLisbeth Searcy
- Chuck ConnorsSanderson