La grande randonnée de Lassie

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....

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.

If you love catchy, melodic songs (a couple of which could have been hits!), you will love this movie. The endearing performances of Jimmy Stewart and Mickey Rooney, both of whom sing, also make this a must-see for their fans.

The story and script is just OK otherwise, standard boy-and-his-dog adventure.

It's a shame that the soundtrack album has not been released on CD. I bought the LP on a whim, having not seen the film, and was struck by the high quality of the songwriting and performances. Highlights are "When You're Loved", sung by Debby Boone, which should have been a hit, "That Hometown Feeling" sung by Stewart (quite well for a non-singer), "Travelin' Music" sung by Rooney, and "Banjo Song" by the Mike Curb Congregation in one of their last recorded appearances.

The Magic of Lassie was the beloved collie's last appearance on the big screen. Lassie was quite the box office draw in her day, but according to the box office the day had passed.

Not that the film is all that bad. Maybe if the Sherman songwriting team who gave us so many things for Walt Disney back in their day had produced something like what they did for Mary Poppins, The Magic of Lassie might be better remembered. But nothing like Chim Chim Cheree or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious comes from this score.

James Stewart is raising a pair of grandchildren, Stephanie Zimbalist and Michael Sharrett. He's got an acquisitive neighbor in Pernell Roberts who wants to buy his land and Stewart won't sell. On that trip he spots Lassie and thinks Lassie might have been his dog who survived a fire in the kennel as a pup some years ago.

Roberts proves his case and Stewart reluctantly hands over the dog, but that doesn't sit well with young Sharrett or Lassie and they take off going a third of the country in different directions searching for each other.

Lassie and Sharrett run into all kinds of interesting people. From Lassie's point of view the film starts to look like a big screen version of the Canadian show, The Littlest Hobo. Sharrett proves to be a plucky lad, but he gets himself in a heap of trouble.

Of course this being a kid's film you know we're going to see a happy ending. Let's just say that in Lane Davies, a young lawyer who has eyes for Zimbalist, he proves handy to have around.

The Magic of Lassie marked Alice Faye's farewell screen appearance and it was also James Stewart's last starring feature film release as well. I was disappointed they did not share the screen. Mickey Rooney and Mike Mazurki as a wrestler and his trainer have a couple of laughs themselves.

Still though The Magic of Lassie did not do sufficient box office to interest anyone in any more films so far about the old collie.

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.