Lassie Come Home is a quintessential example of a 1940s family film, yet its themes—love, loyalty, and home—are universal. The story is told in a straightforward manner, without cynicism, emphasizing the emotions and beauty of simple relationships, which is why it is considered one of the most beautiful classic animal tales.

The story takes place in England during the Great Depression. The Carraclough family is poor, and even though their son Joe loves his dog Lassie more than anything in the world, his parents are forced to sell her to the wealthy Duke of Rudling in order to survive. Lassie is taken hundreds of kilometers north to Scotland.

Despite the distance, the guards, and the obstacles, Lassie keeps running away to return to Joe. Although the Duke admires her, his granddaughter Priscilla realizes that Lassie belongs where someone truly loves her.

Lassie sets out on a long, dangerous journey across the countryside—she crosses rivers and forests, faces attacks from both people and animals, and nearly perishes, yet her determination remains unshakeable.

Adventure / Family / Drama

USA, 1943, 86 min

Titles in other languages: Lassie Come Home

Cast: Fred M. Wilcox;

Crew: Pal, Roddy McDowall, Elizabeth Taylor, Edmund Gwenn, Nigel Bruce, Elsa Lanchester, May Whitty, Ben Webster, J. Pat O’Malley, Alan Napier, Arthur Shields;

Parents’ Guide:

A person being struck on the head with a stick, followed by a fight. A dog being struck with a stick, followed by the dog biting a person on the hand. A father smoking a pipe.

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