Movie Review: Old Yeller
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Jim's talk with Travis is a model of parental wisdom, understanding, and patience. He accepts and validates Travis' feelings completely, and does not try to minimize or talk him out of them. (Contrast that with Elsbeth, who tries to comfort Travis by encouraging him to "come to like the pup.") Instead of telling him what to do, he says, "I'll tell you a trick that's sometimes a big help," letting him decide for himself whether to take the advice and, if he does, letting him decide whether this is one of the times that it is a big help or not. By saying that Travis is not "in shape to take pleasure from the horse" yet, Jim is again letting him know that he respects his feelings of loss and sorrow, and that there will be time for him to feel happy about the horse later.
Travis is not just reluctant to adopt Old Yeller at first -- he is downright hostile. The reason is his sense of loss over his first dog, Belle. His ability to accept Young Yeller more easily shows how much he has grown up.
Families who enjoy this movie might also enjoy My Dog Skip and Lassie Come Home. Families who especially enjoyed the cast might see McGuire, Kirk, and Corcoran in Swiss Family Robinson . Kids who like animal stories may want to read the book by Fred Gipson, who co-wrote the screenplay.
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