Overrated and overhyped

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Where the red fern grows is the best movie ever, and i think its enjoyable for anyone. It was always my favorite movie when i was growing up and always will be. I don't understand how anyone couldn't like it and if you don't then screw you :)Billy lives on a farm. He wants two good coon hounds very badly, but his Papa cannot afford any. Billy works hard, selling fruit and bait to fishermen, so eventually he has enough money for the dogs. I think it also shows how much times have changed, because back in the day they worked for what they wanted and now its nothing like that and most people get things handed to them and never work a day in there life.

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!

I prefer this original version to the remake. I remember watching this version on television with my father during a Saturday afternoon movie matinée when I was a young child. The authentic setting, combined with the beautifully sung score (anyone know who sang it?) and touching storyline deliver a movie that makes an impact on any dog lover. There is something enduring about the portrayal of Billy. My son is a huge dog lover and I see so much of him in Billy's character (even the doe eyes Billy makes at dogs and puppies). From the moment the opening music sounds, tears fill your eyes because you know what's coming. One of the scenes I liked best from the original wasn't in the remake: the scene where Billy is training his dogs and his mother inadvertently lays a raccoon scent trail across the kitchen floor...and both dogs, kids, and mother end up slipping and sliding across a kitchen floor covered in suds and water. Hilarious! This film has several excellent messages. It addresses determination and work ethic, but it also addresses the power of love and family. A must have for everyone's collection. Although the remake is quite good and true to the original, I recommend this original version to anyone wishing to own a video companion to the novel.

Yet another fictional "memoir" of that final year before puberty, which seems colored for so many in sepia or pastel tones of impenetrable nostalgia. There are so many of them that if the films were laid end to end they'd undoubtedly reach the moon. For me, "Stand By Me" is the sine qua non, but as this one precedes it by more than a decade, perhaps it's unfair to compare. In any case, this is the tale of a 12-y/o boy during the depression who longs to acquire a pair of hound dogs with which he can hunt raccoons. Now I don't suppose my opinions about scaring small animals out of their wits and then killing them is particularly relevant here, but if you're going to extol the practice, then at least be honest enough to show it! Here, each raccoon is pursued up a tree, and then seamlessly transformed into a clean and bloodless pelt -- probably tanned and deodorized too, though I couldn't be sure about that. Other than that, I can tell you that the boy was a year older the next year, and that there's an old Indian story about a red fern and two lovers. I suppose if this kid was your grandfather, this might make a good story to loll you to sleep on a cold winter's night, but since he wasn't related to me I found I didn't care for or about him any more at the end of the movie than before I watched it. My advice: give this one a pass.