I don't know why filmmakers like to torture children with the death of their beloved pet dog, but it definitely seems to have been a theme for the past sixty years or so. Interesting story: when I looked this film up on Wikipedia to get some of the specifics, it had it listed as a "family tragedy film." You know the film industry has a morbid fascination with terrifying children when "family tragedy" is a genre that even exists. Old Yeller is the story of a young boy and his dog, who live on a farm together and are pretty much attached at the hip. It's sort of a Lassie situation, where the dog is constantly protecting the boy and his family. But one day, the dog gets into a fight with a rabid wolf, and contracts the painful, fatal disease. The boy decides that it's his responsibility to deal with the problem, and shoots Yeller to put him out of his misery, essentially waving goodbye to his childhood. I don't know a single person who has made it out of this film as anything other than a gibbering mess of snot and tears. It has a significant place in popular culture as one of the biggest tearjerkers of all time, and even if people haven't seen it, you can bet that they know exactly what happens at the end of Old Yeller. Like this list? Any to add? Let us know in the comments section below.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
