User reviews

I don't know how I missed seeing (or even reading) Where the Red Fern Grows as a kid, but watching it as an adult for the first time was an interesting experience. This is a dated, but well-made family drama. It's a simple story that takes its time and does its best to make sure the children that watch it are emotionally wrecked. Strangely enough, though, I didn't cry. I just want a dog now.

While the movie version of Where the Red Fern Grows is not quite as good as the book by Wilson Rawls, the film is still a quality family film and very much worth watching if you are a fan of the novel.

The changes in the plot for the movie version are minor, and most of the same themes Rawls intended for his readers can be found in the movie. However, one glaring difference is the fact that the characterization in the movie cannot touch the novel. The movie does little to build up Billy's "dog wanting" disease as well as Billy's dogged (pun intended) determination to secure himself some hunting hounds. This takes away from the reader's sympathy for and identification with the protagonist. Grandpa's character also does not come off as well as he does in the novel. In the novel, Grandpa is clearly a wise man despite his one irrational act; in the movie, he seems plain irrational, and there is no sign of his wisdom on the subjects of life and coon hunting. The extent to which the dogs are given characters and personalities in the book is not found in the movie, either. Billy's mother and father do translate fairly well from the book to the big screen, but the fact that the protagonist and his dogs do not is the major weakness of the film.

In closing, if you're a fan of the novel, then you should definitely watch this movie version, but don't expect it to be as good as the classic children's novel.

What's more wholesome than a boy and his dog? How about a boy and his two dogs.

I vaguely remember reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" in elementary and I thought I'd watch the movie as a refresher. It is a virtuous movie about a boy named Billy and his love for his raccoon hunting dogs that he worked so hard to purchase.

It was an adorable movie if nothing else. Not terribly memorable and not terribly dramatic. Safe and adorable.

I take issue with the one negative review on this site. Some people might just be mad that they did not have a great life like that young boy...

This film showed a young boy taking responsibility in life to earn something instead of expecting it to be handed to him. That's something that many grown-ups today don't even do. As a high school student who watches a lot of movies, I haven't seen many films that show a kid working hard for what he's got and being happy with what he has. These values are missing today and this is movie is a refreshing change from what I'm used to seeing. It is a great movie!

Set in the Depression Era Ozark country, the Coleman family has it pretty tough as most did in those years. But they are a wholesome lot without getting too sticky sentimental. The parents are Jack Ging and Beverly Garland and their oldest Stewart Petersen a slightly pre- pubescent adolescent has only one thing in mind. He's a country kid who has his heart set on getting and training a pair of hunting dogs for coon hunting and on the advice of his grandfather James Whitmore works like a dog to get the money to buy a pair of puppies to train.

Coon hunting is both a profession and a labor of love for those who get into it. We see young Petersen train his canines to be the best. But it comes at a tragic price.

Where The Red Fern grows is a fine family film that most likely never played in the cosmopolitan east during its release. Stewart Petersen was a Mormon Kid who did a bunch of these of varying quality during the 70s. He comes across as a real and not a Hollywood kid and he gets good support from the veteran cast. Note the Osmonds as producers. Petersen did films for the LDS church itself as well as other family features in the 70s.

Where The Red Fern Grows holds up well today. Dig the Quo Vadis type ending which explains about the significance of the Red Fern.

Now here's a book that has never really gotten grand movie treatment. Maybe it's the fact that the book has so many elements to it that are hard to portray in movie form, such as heavy characterization and animal thoughts/beliefs, but it just seems that all the movies fall a little short.

This movie version is clearly the best of a mediocre bunch, however. The casting is about as well done as could be expected. Stewart Peterson, in the first and perhaps the best role of his short career, is perfect as Billy. I also liked Jack Ging's portrayal of Billy's father.

On the flip side, Beverly Garland, a heavily experienced actress at the time this movie was filmed, was horrible as Billy's mother. In the book, Billy is a borderline "mama's boy". His mother is written as overly-affectionate, constantly hugging and kissing him, much to his chagrin. In the movie, however, she spends nearly every scene chasing him with mops and threatening to whip him when he wants to finish cutting the tree down! To be honest, I question whether Garland had read the book, because she basically replayed her TV show "cowboy's wife" characters in the movie.

A lot of the gorier sections of the book are cut down. It's hard for kids nowadays to think that a book could be more gruesome than a movie, but that is clearly the case here. The ax scene, in particular, is almost comically chopped down, no pun intended. The ending, however, is nearly as gut-wrenching in the movie as the book. Whenever I teach this book to 7th/8th graders, it's neck-and-neck for which draws more tears.

From an artistic standpoint, some of the 70's film-making peculiarities are interesting, such as the fact that most of Billy's "night-time" scenes take place in broad daylight, even while Billy carries around a lit lantern! Overall, it's a passable movie and does follow the book quite closely. For teachers such as myself, there is no other option. The 90's version is an absolute mess, and this movie has enough nostalgic charm to keep its datedness in check. In other words, you won't feel guilty showing it to students!

The 1974 version of "Where the Red Fern Grows" was shot in Tahlequah, OK at the time I was director of Theatre Tulsa, not far away. Norman Tokar, Director, came to me and asked if I would help find local children to be in the film, and I had about 200 of them sitting in my theater the next Sat. for him to choose from. He picked the two young girls from that bunch. As a gesture of appreciation, Norman gave me the role in the film that he had intended to play, himself -- the Stationmaster. Lyman Dayton, the producer, decided he'd make a new version some 25 or 30 years later, and he called me to ask if I'd reprise my role as Stationmaster in this new filming. I said, "Yes." It turned out that I was the only member of the original cast who repriced his role. There's a lot more to this story, but that'll suffice for now. Bob Telford

Story of a poor kid (Stewart Petersen) raising prize coondogs to hunt skins to sell to make racoon coats for the fashionable Cambridge college crowd, a legitimate and lucrative enterprise in the hard scrabble world of the Ozarks 100 years ago. If this movie were made today, PETA would be all up in an outrage, demanding animals be portrayed only in a mythical Peaceable Kingdom, in denial of all history to the contrary. Fortunately this was made in the unPC "70's, and is therefore a valuable gem of an author's semi-autobiographical sensitively detailed account of life in that world of hard-fought achievement and heartbreak.

Before the credits even roll, this proclaims itself a "Family Film", and indeed, there is one adorably young girl who plays a featured secondary role as the baby sister, but as a kid who cried myself when Bambi's mother died, there are a few bloody and violent scenes, not at all gratuitous and actually as sensitively done as all the rest, but with animals realistically tearing themselves up in the wild, and a child killing another child, albeit accidentally, I probably wouldn't take a child under 8-10. Warning: Animals probably Were harmed making this film.

Just one glaring anachronism: the silky, shiny, blown-out hair of all the cast members in a world where the time and effort to heat water made bathing a less than daily event, and shampoo was entirely unknown, All except Papa (Jack Ging) who wears a full, almost 'Fro wig on his head to rival Trump's Flying Squirrel The unintended joke is Papa makes his son a coonskin hunting cap, but nothing could rival the furry varmint perched on Dad's crown!

Lotsa TV actors here, lending an appropriately low-key, no glamour feel (to counter the shiny hair!) but James Whitmore as Grandpa is particularly good.

An adaptation of one of the best children's books ever written, while a good production, does not capture the magic of the book. I should know. I have read this book three times, and I love it more each time.

The atmosphere present in the book is very well morphed onto the screen. Most of the characters are very believable, and Billy is pretty good himself too. The movie also follows the book almost to a tee. The only main difference is the chemistry between the two dogs. While the dogs seemed well trained in the movie, only the human imagination can actually create the love that emulates from both of these animals.

And of course, the book is always just a little bit better anyway. If you've read the book and wish to see the movie, it might be a little disappointing. If you've seen the movie and want to read the book, do so immediately! It'll have you in tears.

Today's young people should really take a look a look at this family movie. The morals and the lessons learned are very good. The story is simple, a boy and his dogs. What's important about this film is how different life was without television, cellphones, the internet, children did chores and helped their parents, and listened to what their parents had to say. The film is good, the acting okay, the animal scenes are very good, a good wholesome film. If your kids are acting up, force them to watch this movie, and then they will appreciate on how easy they have it. I liked the movie because it takes place in Oklahoma, rural Oklahoma, far from major cities like Tulsa. Life was simple then, and family values were high, I especially liked when Billy spent the extra ten dollars on his family, rather then spend it on himself, try getting your kids to do the same, I really doubt that would happen these days. I haven't seen the remake of this film, but it would have to be awfully good to top this one.

This was a good movie, a young boy works for 2 coon dogs and they happen to be the best coon dogs ever, don't listen to this lady calling it "gay" she is clearly retarded,the only thing i didn't like was that the night scene were shot in the day time. This movie is also sad and has a good story to it. This movie shows how the old times used to be and how much respect kids have towards older people and kids had to work for things they wanted and money was super tight, kids didn't have there parents buy them everything they wanted, and this movie shows exactally that, defiently worth watching again and is very inspiring for anyone.

This movie, without preaching, demonstrates basic American values of love and loss, and self reliability. It demonstrates why and how you only get from any effort what you put into it, and how strong love can be. I first saw this movie shortly after it's release, and it has had a profound influence on my life. We have to meet God halfway if we are requesting any help from a supreme being. Wholesome and heartwarming. It makes my eyes leak every time.

For those who grew up reading Wilson Rawls's classic novel, the Film adaptation is still considered a classic since it was released in 1974 (and despite that, it's in the Public Domain).

Where the Red Fern Grows is a heartwarming family classic and a tearjerker at the same time with a magnificent cast including the late James Whitmore (the Planet of the Apes (1968), the Shawshank Redemption) as Billy's Grandfather, great acting, and valuable lessons; plus the Chemistry between Billy and his two Coonhounds Dan and Ann is remarkable throughout both the movie and the original novel of the same name, and the song written by the Osmonds and sung by the late Andy Williams are splendid and despite it's never gotten a soundtrack release. Overall this heartwarming family classic is worth watching for those who have read the book and those who are Dog Lovers and considered this an instant family classic for generations to come after its release in 1974.

A movie so steeped in virtue it's breathtaking. An absolute American masterpiece that enriched the lives of all that had the honor to view it.

"Where the Red Fern Grows" is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs.

The number one reason to see this movie: it has early cinematography from the master, Dean Cundey. The number two reason to see this movie: Beverly Garland (star of "The Alligator People") in a completely normal role.

Unfortunately, the version I saw (on Netflix) is full screen. Maybe it was filmed that way, but I suspect somewhere out there a widescreen version exists, and if the right elements were found, the picture could be sharper, too. This is not really the kind of film that demands that kind of attention, but who knows? Maybe it will happen.

Hello Everyone, I watched the original movie at a Saturday matinée, when I was 12 years old.

I also, just recently watched my very 1st. movie on Netflix and it was "Where The Red Fern Grows".

I can not tell you, how many times, that I have watched this movie, over the last 42 years. This is how much I love this movie.

The remake can not compare too the original movie. It left a life long impression on my heart and soul.

There is not much more that I can say, that has not been said, over the years in other reviews, of this endearing, heart-warming movie.

I may have one special advantage, over anyone else, I have had a 42 year old love affair with this movie.

It was made in 1974 and for the time, I think it was well-made and they did their very best, too tug at your heart-strings.

The only other movie or show, that would ever come close or even tie, is the show "The Waltons".

I have also watched this show, since day one and also their original "Homecoming" movie.

The original "Where The Red Fern Grows" and "The Waltons", have family values and morals and faith, that nothing is impossible, if you work hard and just believe.

After watching this movie, as a young child, I became so much more of an animal lover. I will forever have the deepest respect and admiration for this movie.

I very much look forward too the 50th. anniversary of "Where The Red Fern Grows". I will certainly buy the DVD.

It would really be nice to have a special screening of the movie in our local theaters. It would be lovely to see it on the big screen, all over again.

I will keep my fingers crossed, that it will happen. I just know it would make so many die-hard fans very happy and attract a whole new generation of admirers of this beloved movie.