Challenge to Lassie (1949)

Was there ever an animal actor as compelling and affecting as Lassie? Regardless of the sex confusion (the first Lassie was actually a male, not the female the dog portrayed), Lassie was competent in his roles, this film being no exception.The story is simple and heartfelt, based upon a true event - a terrier who so loved his master that, when he died, would faithfully guard and sleep on his dead master's grave. Hence "Greyfriar's Bobby" and his story was born. Take the time to look it up online, it's a wonderful story of love, devotion and how a town got involved in the life of one, poor dog.The cast is delightful, filled with my favorite character actors from the 1940s - Donald Crisp, Edmund Gwenn, Reginald Owen, Alan Napier - wonderful actors no matter what the role.According to IMDb, some of the filming was done at the actual location of Greyfriar's Churchyard. If true, it brings a beautiful touch of authenticity, even if Lassie is a collie and not a terrier.This film is especially good for children to watch, as it teaches a lesson about devotion and loyalty and the heavy price one might have to pay for both. But the denouement is uplifting and joyous, and very special to watch.I've loved this movie since I was a child, and now almost a half-century later, it still holds up,.Treat your children and yourselves to a sweet, uplifting experience. The "Challenge To Lassie" is worth your time.

Back (again) in Scotland, Lassie is (again) on trial for her life. Because the faithful dog sleeps on her master's grave, she must be put to death, according to law. Oddly, it is also explained that Lassie had no "legal" owner, which is, apparently, also against an old Scottish law. If, after three days, no owner is located, dogs must be destroyed. Edmund Gwenn (as John Traill) pleads Lassie's case, which leads to an extended flashback, showing Lassie's adoption by Donald Crisp (as John "Jock" Gray).Although it's based on an interesting, original story ("Greyfriars Bobby"), "Challenge to Lassie" revisits several earlier Lassie situations; and, it does not improve upon them. Comparatively speaking, this one is sloppy and unexciting; and, it's a disappointing follow-up to "The Sun Comes Up" (1949). Geraldine Brooks (as Susan Brown) and several of the other performers may be charming, but can't elevate this one. Little Jimmy Hawkins (from "It's a Wonderful Life") is among the notable children supporting Lassie. *** Challenge to Lassie (10/31/49) Richard Thorpe ~ Edmund Gwenn, Donald Crisp, Geraldine Brooks

A wonderful movie starring the original Lassie. A sad tale of an owner who dies and his loyal dog who prefers to sleep on his grave only to find it is against the law. The movie is a Lassie movie of old, that's for sure and a treat to view and watch. A real family film, entertaining for all ages. The setting is Scotland and of course, we see it is a Hollywood set, but so what? It is a wonderful film and you will become enraptured with this beautiful collie dog who acts and performs like a human being. I highly recommend the film. Very lovely, endearing and a real treat. As is any Lassie movie. Don't miss it. It comes on TV a lot or rent or buy it. It is a keeper.

Long before Mel Gibson and his Braveheart chums erroneously and treacherously painted Robert the Bruce as a traitor to the people he served so heroically, Hollywood was trampling all over the memory of that other great Scottish hero, Greyfriar's Bobby. Challenge to Lassie removes the faithful terrier, replacing him with some big shot American sheepdog, surrounded by 'actors' whose Scottish accents are so bad you wonder if they've given up half way through, tried an Irish one, realised they're not much cop at that either and tried Scottish again to no avail.Hopefully Braveheart will pay the same price for attempting to alter Scotland's proud history and be as anonymous in forty odd years as Challenge to Lassie is now.An evil, evil film.