Where the Red Fern Grows
Tags: tragedy, depressing

Plot synopsis:
When leaving work in Idaho's Snake River Valley, Billy Colman sees a pack of dogs attacking a stray coonhound. He chases the pack away and takes the stray home to feed it. Once it has rested, Billy sets it free, knowing that it will return home.
The experience reminds Billy of his childhood growing up in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. He wants a dog, and his parents offer to get him a crossbred puppy from a neighbor's litter. He tells them he wants two coonhounds, but his parents tell him they cannot afford them. Billy finds a magazine ad for a Kentucky kennel which breeds Redbone Coonhounds and sells them for $25 each. He goes to work performing odd jobs such as selling vegetables to local fishermen and saves the $50 he needs with the help of his grandfather. However, since it takes two years to do so, his grandfather writes ahead to see if the kennel will honor the ad. They do, and the price has dropped so the two puppies only cost $40.
Since the mail buggy does not deliver live creatures, Billy's dogs are delivered to the freight depot in Tahlequah. His family does not have transportation, so he finds his own way to get to the depot and chooses to go through the hills. He picks up and leaves with his puppies, which are a male and a female. He buys a gift for each member of his family with his extra $10 before heading back home.
On the way back home, he spends the night in Robber's Cave in the Sparrow Hawk Mountains. There he builds a fire and plays with the puppies. While trying to sleep, he hears a noise that he realizes is the cry of a mountain lion. In the morning, he continues on. He comes to a sycamore tree and sees the names Dan and Ann carved inside a heart in the bark and decides to name the puppies Old Dan and Little Ann.
To train Old Dan and Little Ann, Billy traps a raccoon with the help of his grandfather and uses its pelt to teach them to hunt. During their training, their personalities become apparent: Old Dan is brave and strong, while Little Ann is very intelligent. Both are very loyal to each other and to Billy.
On the first night of hunting season, Billy takes Old Dan and Little Ann out for their first hunt. He promises them that if they tree a raccoon, he will do the rest. They tree one in a large sycamore, which Billy had previously nicknamed "The Big Tree". As he tries to call them off, they look at him sadly and he cuts the tree down, which takes him two days and costs him blistered hands. In the end, when he's about to give up his effort, Billy offers a short prayer for strength to continue. A strong wind starts to blow and the tree falls. Old Dan and Little Ann take the raccoon down.
Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann go hunting almost every night. As months go by, he brings more fur to his grandfather's store than any other hunter, and the stories of his dogs spread throughout the Ozarks. He and his grandfather make a bet with Rubin and Rainie Pritchard, that his dogs can catch the legendary "ghost coon". Rubin and Rainie set out with him to see if Old Dan and Little Ann can do so. It leads them on a long, complicated chase, and Rubin and Rainie want to give up. Finally, when they have it treed, Billy refuses to kill it. Rubin then orders his dog, Old Blue, to attack Old Dan, who is smaller; and Rubin starts to beat Billy to stop him from interfering. Little Ann then helps Old Dan, and together they injure Old Blue; Rubin runs to attack them with an axe, but he trips on it and kills himself.
A few weeks later, Billy's grandfather enters him into a championship raccoon hunt, putting him against experienced hunters and the finest dogs in the country. Before it starts, he enters Little Ann into a contest for the best-looking dog, where and she wins the silver cup. On the fourth night of the hunt, Old Dan and Little Ann tree three raccoons, making it to the final round. The sixth night, they tree one before a blizzard hits. Billy, his father, grandfather, and the judge lose sight of the dogs. When they finally find them, Billy's grandfather sprains his ankle. They build a fire, and when Billy's father chops down a tree, three raccoons jump out. Old Dan and Little Ann take two of them down, and chase the third one to another tree. In the morning, the hunters find them covered with ice circling the bottom of a tree. The last raccoon wins them the championship and the gold cup. The hunters also present them with $300 of jackpot money.
Billy's mother and sisters are overjoyed with the prizes. He continues hunting. One night Old Dan and Little Ann tree a mountain lion, and it attacks. Billy enters the fight with his axe, hoping to save his dogs, but they end up having to save him. Eventually, they kill the mountain lion, but Old Dan is badly wounded, and Billy finds his intestines in a bush. He dies late that night. Billy is heartbroken, and Little Ann loses the will to live, stops eating, and dies of grief a few days later on Old Dan's grave. Billy's father tries to tell him that it is all for the best, because with the money they received from winning the championship hunt, they can move to town. He goes to visit Old Dan and Little Ann's graves and finds a giant red fern between them. According to Native American legend, only an angel can plant one. He and his family look at it in awe, and he feels ready to move on knowing that his dogs are always going to be remembered.

Review: Good Family Movie.
Today's young people should really take a look a look at this family movie.
If your kids are acting up, force them to watch this movie, and then they will appreciate on how easy they have it.
Life was simple then, and family values were high, I especially liked when Billy spent the extra ten dollars on his family, rather then spend it on himself, try getting your kids to do the same, I really doubt that would happen these days.
I haven't seen the remake of this film, but it would have to be awfully good to top this one..
The 1974 version of "Where the Red Fern Grows" was shot in Tahlequah, OK at the time I was director of Theatre Tulsa, not far away.
Lyman Dayton, the producer, decided he'd make a new version some 25 or 30 years later, and he called me to ask if I'd reprise my role as Stationmaster in this new filming.
While the movie version of Where the Red Fern Grows is not quite as good as the book by Wilson Rawls, the film is still a quality family film and very much worth watching if you are a fan of the novel.The changes in the plot for the movie version are minor, and most of the same themes Rawls intended for his readers can be found in the movie.
The movie does little to build up Billy's "dog wanting" disease as well as Billy's dogged (pun intended) determination to secure himself some hunting hounds.
In the novel, Grandpa is clearly a wise man despite his one irrational act; in the movie, he seems plain irrational, and there is no sign of his wisdom on the subjects of life and coon hunting.
The extent to which the dogs are given characters and personalities in the book is not found in the movie, either.
Billy's mother and father do translate fairly well from the book to the big screen, but the fact that the protagonist and his dogs do not is the major weakness of the film.In closing, if you're a fan of the novel, then you should definitely watch this movie version, but don't expect it to be as good as the classic children's novel..
The best coon hunting dogs in the world.
He's a country kid who has his heart set on getting and training a pair of hunting dogs for coon hunting and on the advice of his grandfather James Whitmore works like a dog to get the money to buy a pair of puppies to train.Coon hunting is both a profession and a labor of love for those who get into it.
But it comes at a tragic price.Where The Red Fern grows is a fine family film that most likely never played in the cosmopolitan east during its release.
Petersen did films for the LDS church itself as well as other family features in the 70s.Where The Red Fern Grows holds up well today.
This was a good movie, a young boy works for 2 coon dogs and they happen to be the best coon dogs ever, don't listen to this lady calling it "gay" she is clearly retarded,the only thing i didn't like was that the night scene were shot in the day time.
This movie is also sad and has a good story to it.
This movie shows how the old times used to be and how much respect kids have towards older people and kids had to work for things they wanted and money was super tight, kids didn't have there parents buy them everything they wanted, and this movie shows exactally that, defiently worth watching again and is very inspiring for anyone..
This movie, without preaching, demonstrates basic American values of love and loss, and self reliability.
Most of the characters are very believable, and Billy is pretty good himself too.
While the dogs seemed well trained in the movie, only the human imagination can actually create the love that emulates from both of these animals.And of course, the book is always just a little bit better anyway.
If you've read the book and wish to see the movie, it might be a little disappointing.
If you've seen the movie and want to read the book, do so immediately!
Hello Everyone, I watched the original movie at a Saturday matinée, when I was 12 years old.I also, just recently watched my very 1st.
movie on Netflix and it was "Where The Red Fern Grows".I can not tell you, how many times, that I have watched this movie, over the last 42 years.
It left a life long impression on my heart and soul.There is not much more that I can say, that has not been said, over the years in other reviews, of this endearing, heart-warming movie.I may have one special advantage, over anyone else, I have had a 42 year old love affair with this movie.It was made in 1974 and for the time, I think it was well-made and they did their very best, too tug at your heart-strings.The only other movie or show, that would ever come close or even tie, is the show "The Waltons".I have also watched this show, since day one and also their original "Homecoming" movie.The original "Where The Red Fern Grows" and "The Waltons", have family values and morals and faith, that nothing is impossible, if you work hard and just believe.After watching this movie, as a young child, I became so much more of an animal lover.
Where the red fern grows is the best movie ever, and i think its enjoyable for anyone.
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..
Some people might just be mad that they did not have a great life like that young boy...This film showed a young boy taking responsibility in life to earn something instead of expecting it to be handed to him.
As a high school student who watches a lot of movies, I haven't seen many films that show a kid working hard for what he's got and being happy with what he has.
How about a boy and his two dogs.I vaguely remember reading "Where the Red Fern Grows" in elementary and I thought I'd watch the movie as a refresher.
It is a virtuous movie about a boy named Billy and his love for his raccoon hunting dogs that he worked so hard to purchase.It was an adorable movie if nothing else.
this movie was very old when my students and i watched it in the fourth grade after reading the novel.
Tthe movie has a classic storyline of a young boy who dreams of being a coon hunter.
He works and saves money to buy his own hounds and also buys something for each of his family members.The ending however is very sad, one dog is attacked by a cougar and killed and the other is so sad that it eventually dies.
the storyline is a little shallow at times but it is a kid's movie for crying out loud.
I don't know how I missed seeing (or even reading) Where the Red Fern Grows as a kid, but watching it as an adult for the first time was an interesting experience.
It's a simple story that takes its time and does its best to make sure the children that watch it are emotionally wrecked.
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.
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.
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 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.
"Where the Red Fern Grows" is the heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages about a young boy and his quest for his own red-bone hound hunting dogs.The number one reason to see this movie: it has early cinematography from the master, Dean Cundey.
The number two reason to see this movie: Beverly Garland (star of "The Alligator People") in a completely normal role.Unfortunately, the version I saw (on Netflix) is full screen.
Maybe it was filmed that way, but I suspect somewhere out there a widescreen version exists, and if the right elements were found, the picture could be sharper, too.
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.
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.
MINOR SPOILERS WITHIN!Where the Red Fern Grows  Dir Norman Tokar -1974 Reviewed by Ollie
Stewart Petersen does a terrific job as young Billy Coleman, and makes the character immensely likeable.The film follows Billy's life, as he desperately saves money to buy a pair of hunting dogs.
It is evident that he leads a fairly poor, but honest life, and struggles with his decision to buy the dogs, as opposed to giving the money to his Father.
On going to collect the dogs, he is stared at by the local folk, almost looked down upon, each one in turn glancing at this scruffy, barefoot young character as he enters `their world'.
Picked on by local children, he befriends the local sheriff, who we meet again later in the film.There are some wonderful scenes, from his first encounter with his new found friends, as they lick his toes, and he gently picks them up for the first time, to the comical scene where he is training them, and they run, followed by three children, through the house, sliding every which way on their Mothers freshly cleaned kitchen floor, in a scene which borders farcical, but knows where to draw the line, in keeping the humour gentle.Billy is an idealistic young man, willing to take a beating and defy his mother, rather than break a promise to his dogs.
There is a death, which in itself is only mildly instrumental to the plot, but serves Billy a valuable life lesson, and the viewer is left feeling his pain and sorrow.The end is equally sad, which I won't give away, but there is a beautiful closing shot as the camera pans away from the family, focusing on a single red fern.There are times when deep, clever plots, and intense dialogue serve no purpose, and this film is a shining example of this.
It is a lesson that true beauty is found in the simplicity and innocence of a child's world.It is quite simply, a nice film.
A great example that some of the older films, can still give modern Hollywood movies a run for their money.
I watched this anticipating it to be a little `ropey', and perhaps rough around the edges, given it is 30 years old.
A beautiful story and must see for dog lovers...or anyone!.
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.
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.
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..
It's been a coon's age since I've seen this movie or read the book.
But, that's where it ends.This isn't about childhood lifelong love in the sense of boy vs girl.Billy is a young boy who sees an ad for hunting dogs.
This trip alone is an adventure, but not the center of the story.Billy trains the pups, Old Dan, and Little Anne to be coon dogs, for hunting raccoons.
This is the beginning of their escapades.The love and bond between the three, Billy, Old Dan, and Little Anne, shows throughout the movie.
Near the end of the movie, you see just how strong it is when the two dogs make the ultimate sacrifice.The tail end of the movie will leave you in tears and thinking of the original legend of the Red Fern.In my belief, it's a MUST-SEE movie, but is well worth it.I love it, and hope the new one is at least as good as the original.
This is a good, wholesome, family movie..
While this movie (in my opinion) is touching in the way that any young child has to learn the ways of life the hard way - working hard to earn his/her wants, I think the acting of Billy in the movie was very dry and it was hard to really become interested in the character.
While this movie (in my opinion) is touching in the way that any young child has to learn the ways of life the hard way - working hard to earn his/her wants, I think the acting of Billy in the movie was very dry and it was hard to really become interested in the character.
It's an older movie that has something to relate to, so I believe that this is the perfect film for a younger person to watch.
It's an older movie that has something to relate to, so I believe that this is the perfect film for a younger person to watch.
It gives you the mindset of the simplicity of the way things were way back when, and for a short amount of time you're forced to question the morality of the family in the film.
It gives you the mindset of the simplicity of the way things were way back when, and for a short amount of time you're forced to question the morality of the family in the film.
I think most of the acting in this movie was very dry; especially after the tragic (spoiler) death of Billy's hound dogs.
I think most of the acting in this movie was very dry; especially after the tragic (spoiler) death of Billy's hound dogs.
red fern grows review.
I thought that this was a good film in the time period that it was made and the story was great also, it was a nice family film and the acting was okay but the actors sometimes were not convincing like when the dogs died.The movie was not like other movies that require special effects and action while this movie relied on story and the relationship between the boy and the dogs.The film's story was sad in some parts especially when Dan was killed by the cougar during the hunting competition,another sad part was when Anne died of heartbreak after Dan died.The movie inspired me because the kid worked hard for money to purchase the dogs and billy also bought things for his parents and his sisters..
In the movie Where the Red Fern Grows a young boy named Billy goes on an adventure with nothing but determination and the hope God will met him half way in his journey to get two hunting dogs.
This movie was a emotional journey following the life of this young boy who's goals are set achieved and destroyed in the end you can really feel for his character with his dogs dying if you've ever owned a pet who's passed away or been put down I feel like the acting could have been a little better but for a child actor he was stupendous I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even have a southern accent in really life.
I'd watch this movie once but the end was a little anticlimactic I feel it could have had more emotion.
Quite a sad film, but the story itself had a good plot.
I first saw this movie in 4th grade after my teacher had read us the book.
It's about a hillbilly boy who buys two hunting dogs and names them Old Dan and Little Ann. SPOILER ALERT What I didn't like about this movie is that the dogs die at the end.