The Painted Hills

Occasionally, the reviews of movies are much worse than the movie, and this is one of those occasions, bec, to view any animal movie from an anthropomorphic pov is just plain silly. Great acting isn't really an option. It's just a sappy animal movie, the Lassie name is just a 'trademark', and there were many Lassies, male and female, bec one dog can't do all behaviors, and that's about all that can be said. So, as for Pal's acting, if it was all his, it was very well done, esp the 1st attack scene, and esp for a Collie. And for kids of x age; they'd love it. Transformers: Age of Extinction - Great effects, giving the Asian Tran a stereotypical accent was as bad as tha Anerinds'

Plot - A wilderness prospector discovers gold dust, but is undermined by a greedy partner, even as his faithful dog and orphaned boy try to defend their cabin and survive the partner's growing greed.

I can't quite fathom why this little adventure flick is so derided by critics. That may be because developments don't adhere to the usual benchmarks from the series as a whole. In fact, the storyline stands robustly on its own, departure or not, with a number of unexpected developments, plus great location photography and drama surrounding high peaks, soaring clouds, and drop-off cliffs. Then too, if there're studio backdrops to this scenery, I couldn't spot them. But then MGM was a big-budget studio, and it looks like they popped an expense even for this programmer. No, the acting won't get awards, but I do like the way the Native Americans are blended-in in humanizing fashion. Good also to see usual villain Paul Kelly playing a good guy for a change. And, of course, there's Shep (Lassie) as always winning more fans for our 4-footed friends. Anyway, in my little book, the flick's a grabber for both front-row kids and second-row adults, especially if you like scenic adventure. So give it a try.

Another reviewer remarked that The Painted Hills was "startlingly dark" for a Lassie film. After watching it I would have to agree. It's also while not Citizen Kane material not as bad as some make it out.

I have a theory on that. This is supposed to be a family film, but Bruce Cowling isn't a family film type villain. He's an ordinary guy who succumbs to the traditions of gold fever. Fred C. Dobbs never got as psychotic as this guy when he decides he doesn't want to split the strike that his partner Paul Kelly has uncovered, neither with Kelly or Ann Doran widow of a third partner who has a son Gary Gray.

Lassie is called Shep in this film, but it's our beloved collie just the same. Shep is the only witness to what happened to Kelly. Man can't prove anything that can stand up in a court of law, but the collie knows the story and the collie settles accounts in a manner worthy of a Corleone.

The Painted Hills is from MGM's B picture unit. I'd give this one a look, not as bad as some reviewers make it out.

The lovely Collie Lassie after 10 movies and Series on 17 seasons conquered the American's hearts with her natural skills and fearless action to uphold her beloved owner, in The Painted Hills due the tragic outcome with the greedy man who killed his master, mostly of bad reviewers and low ratings gave by large majority due the dog revenge given a bad reputation of the movie despite the picture had many qualities on those breathtaking rocky mountains landscape and an exciting story as well.

The older prospector Jonathan Harvey (Paul Kelly) at last find out a clue where the lodestone in up river on high rocky mountains always escorted by his intrepid female Collie Shep (Lassie) he turns back to the city to warn his old partner about the finding, for his astonishment his partner already died steeply, thus the grieving widow Martha Black (Ann Doran) appoints his friend Lin Taylor (Bruce Cowling) a newest partner in order to replace his late husband on his share on gold prospecting, Martha has a little boy Tommy Blake (Gary Gray) that is invited Jonathan to work with them, soon they find a lot of gold thru the fast mining process, however the wiser Jonathan realizes that Lin Taylor is under extreme distress due he will keep with one quarter of gold only.

Jonathan thinking in advance stealthy order to Tommy returns to town and deliver to your mother the map to register officially the mining area on exactly location described in the letter, meanwhile the bleak Lin Taylor sets a plan to kill Jonathan as it was a mere accident, all this witnessed by the keeper Sheep, aftermaths perceiving the abrupt change of behavior of Sheep, then Lin Taylor poison his food, the local Indians got help the dying dog trying save her life, Tommy arrives and soon figures out all about the missing Jonathan and the poisoned Sheep, to worsen the large amount of gold stored in beneath of the wooden floor disappeared from the little cabin.

In my point of view this picture is highly underrated, a true gorgeous landscape on those high snowy rocky mountain, the rapids on the clean waters river, dense forest, attached with a moving storyline and the special skilled and stunning performance by the cross-trained marvelous Lassie, said that I'm very upset to see this valuable family movie in lowest rating.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1981 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.

Bad acting makes this drivel even worse. Poor script and dialog. Bland story.