Lassie Come Home (1943)

My Review

MGM had a huge hit on their hands with a film depicting the unbreakable bond between a young boy and his loyal collie in “Lassie Come Home.” Director Henry M. Wilcox (“Forbidden Planet” 1956) put together this story of the collie Lassie who travels hundreds of miles from Scotland to return to her home in Yorkshire, England. Hugo Butler penned the excellent screenplay adapted from the 1940 novel “Lassie Come-Home” by Eric Knight.

The film launched the careers of child actors Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor. Both went on to fame and fortune as adult show biz personalities, especially Ms. Taylor. Co-stars include Donald Crisp, May Whitty, Edmund Gwenn, Nigel Bruce, Elsa Lanchester, Alan Napier, J. Pat O’Malley, Alec Craig, and Pal as Lassie. “Lassie Come Home” was a box office sensation for producer Dore Schary and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was filmed across California, including Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake, Cape Mendocino, and Thousand Oaks.