The Magic of Lassie

I LOVED this movie! I was probably 10 or 11 when I first saw this movie and I just cried and cried and cried. I didn't even have a dog when this movie came out and I was even afraid of dogs. But I even felt it when Lassie was taken away. Part of my appeal, too, was the soundtrack for this movie, which at the time, I thought was just great. I was very excited to actually recently find my favorite song from the movie (When You're Loved). And too, for some strange reason, I've always been a fan of Lane Davies and loved seeing him in this movie as well. I have told my daughter of this movie and we're planning on watching it tomorrow. I was not alive in the 50s to comment on Lassie then and Lassie now. All I know is it was a great boy/dog movie and it held my interest from beginning to end. This is definitely a family movie -- one I whole heartedly recommend. You will cheer, your children will cheer, and you will be closer for it.

This is basically a revamp of Lassie Come Home. James Stewart is forced into giving up the family pet when a sly neighbour says she belongs to him. He takes the dog from California all the way to Colorado but naturally she escapes and makes her way home, just as Stewart's grandson runs away to find her. It's all one big cross country adventure that just doesn't come off as well as LCH. The young boy is annoying, the songs are awful, and Mickey Rooney's cameo with a wrestler friend is just downright strange. But, James Stewart is a treat as usual, really the perfect grandfather. 7/10

This film is defiantly hokey, but part of the reason I have a fondness for it is I saw it in Radio City Music Hall and the stage show featured Lassie, live and in person. Alice Faye also came out of a 25 year retirement to make this film. Her role before this was the Ann Margaret-Pat Boone remake of State Fair. Like the other poster said the great thing about this film is James Stewart, he makes the whole thing worthwhile. Debbie Boone was very popular at the time and there is actually a hard to find soundtrack album from this release. This film has not come out on DVD or even VHS as of 2005. I looked for it when I bought the Lassie box set of the television series.

Well I was ten years old when my parents took me to see The Magic of Lassie at Radio City Music Hall and I loved it because I loved Lassie and watched the t.v. show every morning. I thought it was a very good movie and I will always have that memory. My parents told me I started everyone crying. The acting was done very well in my opinion with a wonderful cast. I enjoyed the songs as well and looking back at that special memory I wouldn't change anything about the movie. It was a unique story and if the songs and the story made me cry it's because it had an emotional impact on me and I'm glad my parents took me because it's a memory I'll always treasure as they are both passed away. So maybe I'm biased because I've always had a special love for animals and I saw Lassie as my childhood hero, but it's okay because it was a positive experience for me.

Unfortunately, this film came out at the time when families were really pulling apart and it seems that nobody wanted to sit with mom and dad and watch a family film. We grew up with a collie and, of course, what do you think her name was? I first saw this film on HBO and my good friend, a real hard core kind of person, was sitting with me bawling her eyes out! I have tons of Lassie movies and of course this was also added to my collection! I never get tired of Lassie, but then again, I grew up in the era of only three TV stations and we learned to appreciate what we had then. James Stewart did a fine job in this movie and because it was one of his last ones, of course I cherish it! Just watch it on a day you feel like crying; I guarantee it will bring the tears down your face....