Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18441 in DVD
• Released on: 1997-10-14
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 97 minutes

Amazon.com
Wilson Rawls's novel about an Oklahoma boy's devotion to two hunting dogs during the Great Depression was the basis for this appealing 1974 film made by a former Disney director, Norman Tokar. Stewart Peterson is very effective as a 12-year-old, hurtling down the path toward manhood with hounds at his side. (Though how he raised $50 to get the pooches in that economic climate is still a mystery....) --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

One of the best movies about friendship
I first saw this movie when I was in third grade and it is still one of the most heartwarming movies I have ever seen. About a boy who, during the great depression, skrimped and saved to buy a pair of coon hounds. After he finally got them he raised them to become the best pair of coon hunters in the county. What the dogs do for him proves an unconditional friendship to the end. I never fail to cry at the end. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

An excellent animal movie!
A heartfelt film about a boy and his passion for coon hunting. If how well the relationship between people and their pets should decide the value of a movie then this film is solid gold!Set in the 1930's it's realistic atmosphere, period and setting is so stunning, that it holds you to your seat from the start. Excellent acting, especially by James Whitmore and Stewart Peterson. Peterson, particularly, is extremely convincing as Billy. You would have to search long and hard to find as appealing a performance from one so young!In reviewing a film of this nature, you really have to judge the emotional level and how easily you are moved. Some animal movies (OLD YELLER, BORN FREE and others) move you to tears very easily. This is one of those films. Others seem to be strained to say the least. For more on that, see my review of the sequel to ....RED FERN GROWS. In any case, if you are looking for a film that can realistically take you to another time and place, tells a great story and does so in a very moving way, this film is for you.

DON'T MISS OUT OF THIS GREAT CLASSIC!
THIS IS A WONDERFUL MOVIE ABOUT DEDICATION,FAITHFULNESS,LOVE,AND HARD WORK. MY DAD WAS VERY POOR AND HE WANTED A DOG BUT COULD NOT AFFORD ONE. HE DID ANY JOB HE COULD JUST LIKE BILLY AND FINALLY BOUGHT ONE. THE STORIES MY DAD TOLD ME OF HIS YOUTH IN THE HILLS OF TENN. ARE SO SIMILAR TO THIS STORY BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BORN IN THE "HILLS" OR HUNT TO ENJOY THIS MOVIE! THIS MOVIE IS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS A HEART AND LOVE FOR ANIMALS. THE ACTING IS EXCELLENT,THE STORY LINE FLOWS PERFECTLY AND THE FEELING YOU ARE LEFT WITH AFTER WATCHING THIS IS PRICELESS. IT IS A 100% FAMILY MOVIE AND THE KIDS WILL BE GLUED TO THE TV. A WARNING THOUGH YOU WILL BE CRYING IN THE END BUT YOU CANNOT MISS OUT ON THIS CLASSIC!