They don’t make many like this one anymore! This film is a sweeping epic, made during a more innocent time but it’s still a realistic film which features characters that not only work hard to save a farm and celebrate values, but also fight for their land when they have to.

The movie features terrific actors including Alan Ladd as John Chandler, who searches the land for a doctor who can help his son David (David Ladd), who has gone mute following a tragedy which he witnessed which featured the death of his mother. Eventually John Chandler winds up in a fight, a fight provoked by a bully, and soon he owes a debt to a woman named Linnette Moore (Olivia de Havilland) who prevents him from going to jail by offering to pay his bail. He works on her farm to repay the debt and Linnette first falls for the boy and then his dad too.

Chandler sells the boy’s dog, Lance, in order to get him the medical treatment he needs which might provide a cure, but the boy is heartbroken at the loss of the dog. The movie reaches a building climax when the man who owns Lance (he won him in a card game) says he will gladly give the dog back but then plans to have his sons shoot Chandler as a dog thief. David runs to his father just as the exciting action hits a major level. We won’t spoil the ending but this one features a bit of everything including the love between a father and son, a budding romance, and the love for a dog and for the land they cherish.

We are pleased to award our Dove Seal to this movie for ages twelve plus although as parents consult the content chart below they may feel comfortable with their kids under twelve viewing the movie. This is a good story which features a loving father and the devotion of a boy to his dog. What’s not to like?