FAQ

Bill (the dog) is found and raised by young Kathie Merrick (Elizabeth Taylor) who teaches him sheep-herding. One day, Bill is hit by a truck, and the drivers take him to a veterinarian for medical attention. After two months without being identified, Bill is sent off to a training camp for war dogs and then into the combat arena. All this time, Bill's only thoughts are of getting back to Kathie.

Courage of Lassie is the third in a series of seven MGM movies in the Lassie franchise, all of which were based on a character created by English-born author Eric Knight [1897-1943] in his 1940 novel Lassie Come Home. The screenplay for this movie was written by Lionel Houser.

No. Neither Lassie nor Laddie appear in Courage of Lassie. However, the main character, a dog named Bill, is played by Pal, the rough collie who originated the role of Lassie in Lassie Come Home (1943) (1943) and continued to act under the stage name "Lassie" in the next six MGM Lassie movies and the first two TV pilots for the long-running TV series, "Lassie (1954) " [1954-1974].

Because of his acquired aggressiveness following actual combat, Bill is shipped back to the war dog training camp. Along the way, he escapes and makes his way back to Kathie. Unfortunately, 15 people saw him killing chickens and stealing venison along the way, and Bill is sentenced to be destroyed as a menace. During a court appeal, Harry MacBain (Frank Morgan) notices the war dog tattoo in Bill's ear and learns that Bill was declared a war hero for saving his platoon during combat. Harry compares Bill's need for time and support in his return to civilian life in the same manner that soldiers need it. The judge dismisses the case, and Bill is returned to Kathie.