THE COURAGE OF LASSIE

by Kevin Koehler

"A man goes to church to talk to a God he can't see.  But a dog, he can see his God that he loves, and talk to him, and obey his commands all day long.  You're Bill's God."

- Harry MacBain (Frank Morgan), Courage of Lassie

Imagine Lassie growing up in the wilderness.  Alfafa from The Little Rascals shooting him in a hunting accident.  The famed collie saved from certain demise by a young Elizabeth Taylor.  Girl and her dog taking rides together in their miniature sailboat.

Imagine that she renames Lassie "Bill" and trains him to be a sheepdog.  Lassie being hit by a truck.  Elizabeth Taylor searching for him in the miniature sailboat.

Imagine Lassie goes off to war.  The soldiers renaming Lassie "Duke" and tattooing an identification number on his ear.  Lassie bunkered down on a mountainside against "the Japs."  Lassie rescuing his imperiled army platoon from doom but losing his mind in the process.

Imagine Lassie returning home shell-shocked, twisted by his war-time experiences.  A Lassie prone to violence.  Preying on livestock.  Chickens.  Biting the hand that feeds.  A Lassie that lunges after Elizabeth Taylor, teeth bared.  See her fall, hitting her head on a rock.  Knocking herself out.  The two of them taking another ride on the sailboat.

Imagine a judge orders Lassie put down.  A courtroom trial.  Lassie defended by the Wizard of Oz, who has his own shell-shocked son recuperating in an army rehabilitation hospital.  Watch in your mind's eye the Wizard of Oz give this stirring monologue:

"Perhaps a lot of our boys will be coming back not quite ready to take up where they left off.  They'll have gone through more than what most of us could ever think of.  They're going to need patience and love and understanding from us.  And most of all, perhaps they'll need time.  You know, they didn't become soldiers in a day and we can't expect them to become civilians in a day, either.  Bill here, he went through the fight, too.  He's no less a soldier because he can't talk.  But he found a big love and a big understanding from a little girl and he's come through his bad time."

Imagine Lassie isn't put down.  That he's allowed to return home.  To Elizabeth Taylor.  That she hugs him to her tear-stained face and cries "Oh, Bill!"

Imagine this film already exists.

Imagine it is called Courage of Lassie.

Imagine you don't have to imagine.

Interesting footnote: Carl Switzer, better known as Alfafa from Our Gang, was also an established breeder of hunting dogs (Jimmy Stewart bought one from him).  Following a disagreement over a lost dog and an unsettled debt, Switzer was shot dead by an associate by the name of Moses "Bud" Stiltz.  A jury ruled it justifiable homicide when it was revealed Switzer had brandished a jackknife during the encounter.  He was only 31 when he died.

© Pretentious Musings. This review may not be reprinted, in whole or in part, without the express consent of its author.