User Reviews

"The Magic of Lassie" proves that you cannot teach Hollywood new tricks about an old dog. The famous collie, who has more sense than most humans, sets out to protect defenseless animals and return to her masters when she is unjustly taken away from them. "Lassie" movies and television shows are, of course, strictly formula entertainment. The plot and dogs are the same, with minor variations, only the human change. Indeed, this "Lassie" flopped so badly at the box office that James Stewart retired from acting and fans would have to wait until 1994 when "Cocoon: The Return" director Daniel Petrie made the new "Lassie" movie with Helen Slater of "Supergirl" fame. Since then a short-lived "Lassie" television series aired between 1989 and 1991, and director Charles Sturridge helmed "Lassie" with Peter O'Toole and Samantha Morton in 2005. "The Magic of Lassie" script by Jean Holloway of "Till the Clouds Roll By" from a story by Robert & Richard Sherman duplicates for the most part the classic story of "Forbidden Planet" director Fred M. Wilcox's "Lassie Come Home" with Roddy McDowall and Elizabeth Taylor, the first movie about "Lassie." Unquestionably, this "Lassie" entertains, but it lacks the pathos of the original as much as the production values.

This time around Lassie belongs to grandpa Clovis (James Stewart of "It's A Wonderful Life") who owns the Mitchell Winery in Northern California. Clovis' young grandson, Chris (Michael Sharrett of "Deadly Friend") and teenage granddaughter, Kelly (Stephanie Zimbalist of TV's "Remington Steele") live with him now because their parents are dead. The conflict begins when nasty old Jamison (Pernell Roberts of TV's "Trapper John"), a millionaire too rich and greedy for his own good, tries to buy up Clovis' property. Naturally, Clovis refuses to sell out. Before Jamison leaves, he crosses paths with Lassie and man's best friend growls at him. Ironically, it turns out that Lassie really belongs to Jamison. Jamison owned Lassie's mom, and Lassie was his pet puppy. Somehow, Jamison lost Lassie and Clovis adopted the compassionate collie for his Chris. Anyway, Jamison claims ownership and Clovis has no alternative but to return Lassie to the villainous tycoon. Indeed, the dastardly Jamison wants to change Lassie's name to Heatherbelle. Lassie, however, refuses to be a part of Jamison's plans and escapes from Jamison's Colorado mansion.

"The Magic of Lassie" becomes a series of journeys for our eponymous pup. Chiefly, Lassie sets out to return to Clovis and Chris. Clovis' grandson complicates matters when he runs away to Colorado to find Lassie. Not surprisingly, Clovis resolves to track down both Lassie as well as Chris. At fade-out, the Mitchells are reunited with everybody's favorite collie. "The Magic of Lassie" builds up a full head of steam, but squanders its momentum at fade-out. The pacing of the action is anemic and uneven. Holloway is largely to blame for these faults. It looks as if half-way through the filmmakers decided to change the focus of the plot. Everything turns on Lassie and her struggle to get home. The potential action of a clash between Clovis and Jamison over the former's vineyards and Lassie's role in that could have been more rewarding.

Credit must be given to "One Million Years B.C." director Don Chaffey for his very competent direction. The action moves swift and is pleasantly predictable. Among the film's few virtues is "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" lenser Michael Margulies' photography and camera-work as well as the rugged Utah scenery. The cast, including cameos by seasoned thespians Mickey Rooney, Alice Faye, Mike Mazurki, Gene Evans as well as the Mike Curb Congregation and Pat & Debbie Boone, is solid. Several musical interludes concisely highlight the film's themes without calling undue attention to them. Although it is far from being Oscar winning material, the G-rated "Magic of Lassie" provides ideal entertainment for children and grown-ups will invariably find it a refreshing change from the usual sex and violence in most films. Interestingly, the song "When You're Loved" received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song.

The Sherman Brothers, Richard and Robert, had seen better days as songwriters than this sole Lassie musical, having one good song for Debby Boone that got an Oscar nomination and the rest that are instantly forgettable. The story itself is something that has been seen many times, a very rich man wants what he can't have, and he wants Lassie. He's already been trying to get Vineyard owner James Stewart to sell his land to him because he wants to build his own winery, and the very stubborn Stewart has refused. In fact, the rich man, Pernell Roberts, is so obnoxious in what he wants that he's instantly hissable and not at all interesting as the bad guy. When he decides to go after Lassie (who allegedly has a number tattooed inside his fur that indicates has he was one of the pups of a thoroughbred that Roberts once owned), he becomes the sort of mustache twirling villain that went out with cartoon characters Snidely Whiplash and Dick Dastardly.

Once in Roberts hands, he manages to get away, and Stewart's grandson goes on the run to look for him. Lassie encounters Mickey Rooney (as a prize fighting manager) and the kid gets assistance from Alice Faye as a kindly waitress who sings. In fact, everybody seems to have a reason to break into song at one point, and in Faye's case, much of the short song that she sings has a chorus singing over the lyrics with her. There are some Majestic visuals in the cross-country Trek or Lassie, the boy and Stewart who's looking for his grandson, and Stewart does have a few good zingers although a few of his lines are very corny. The emotions that occur when Stewart and his grandson catch up (while the kid is in a cattle truck) are eye rolling.

A secondary story involving a romance between Stewart's older granddaughter Stephanie Zimbalist and local attorney Lane Davies seems pointless. Michael Sharrett, as the grandson, would be no threat to the other pre-teen actors who were gaining success at the time. The script really needed to drop the songs and put better development into the characters, and make Roberts less despicable. The film's eye rolling moments really goes overboard with a young adult singing group singing "A Banjo Song" that is definitely a moment not to drink anything because your TV will be soaked by.a spit take how ridiculously silly it is. Lassie's bark is drowned out by other canines yowling over saccharine this is, more diabetes inducing than the worst Disney musicals and comedies of the previous decade.