Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Old Yeller Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 13, 2017

Generally, movie review decorum dictates a mention that spoilers follow when discussion involves a movie's key moments or its ending. Suffice it to say that in this case, though, Old Yeller's ending has become synonymous with heartbreak and honesty. It's ingrained in popular culture, part of the vernacular...its spoiler is the movie, its ending one of those rare movie moments that transcends the viewing experience, that even those who have not had the pleasure of viewing what is, arguably, Disney's crowning achievement in its classic live-action cinematic ventures know what happens and what it means. And it's what it means that's more interesting than the simple actions that set it in motion.

In post-Civil War Texas, a father (Fess Parker) leaves his family -- wife Katie (Dorothy McGuire), older son Travis (Tommy Kirk) and younger son Arliss (Kevin Corcoran) -- home alone so he can work a cattle drive. He puts Travis in charge, charging him to head up the household, protect the family, and prepare for winter. On the family's first day alone, a dog tears through the property, chasing a mule and wrecking a fence. Travis vows to kill the animal if it bothers the family again. But something happens. The dog stays around, proves its worth, and becomes a loving member of the family. As "Old Yeller," as he's come to be known, works alongside Travis, plays with Arliss, and watches over the family, the most important lesson Travis will ever learn looms on the horizon.

Old Yeller tells a story of friendship. It's a story of hard choices. It's a story of how the world works. There's really no room for groundbreaking analysis and the movie doesn't really hold any thematic secrets. It wears its emotions on its sleeve -- better said it's dog's yellow coat -- and tells its story of bonding and family and of tragedy openly and without hiding its intent. Perhaps no film has ever so directly, effortlessly, charmingly, and sincerely explored the way life works, the best of times and the worst of times, the cycle of life and the hard decisions and emotions that come with it. The only challenge is holding steadfast and keeping a dry eye through the climax, whether watching it for the first time or the fiftieth.

The film may hearken back to a simpler time of living and filmmaking, but the movie exemplifies the idea that, fundamentally, things never change. Man is still defined by his experiences and emotions. Pain still hurts, and it always will. Friendship forms in the heart. Bonds are hard to break. Loss is difficult, but memories last forever, and maybe more important, life goes on. The movie's denouement is its most important part. Sadness lingers, but life goes on. The father returns, memories are shared, life lessons are reinforced. The entire movie is an amazingly touching and important experience that every child needs to see and every adult should re-watch just for a reminder that life sometimes requires the hard decision be made, that it's OK to mourn, and that better days are ahead.

Old Yeller Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Disney's 1080p Blu-ray presentation of Old Yeller looks really, really good. The image retains its grain structure throughout, spiking and sharpening a bit in places, but it offers a pleasing filmic veneer to the proceedings. Details range from good to excellent. While detail at the most intimate levels isn't always visible -- skin is a bit smoother than it maybe should be -- basic textural clarity and definition are excellent. Clothes, Old Yeller's coat, grasses and leaves, woods, and bricks all show tactile definition that reveals finer-point qualities around the frame. Smudginess or softness are extremely rare, and even somewhat distant clumps of leaves or grassy plains hold tight and produce quality definition. Colors are strong and well balanced, never going dull or pushing unnaturally vibrant. Lush natural greens dominate against a lot of earthy old west Texas structures and clothes. Red blood stands apart in a few scenes. Nighttime black levels are deep and honest. Skin tones appear natural. Print wear is practically nonexistent -- a speckle or two might be visible in places, but the grain is heavy enough that it masks most anything that may be there. No compression issues of note are evident. This is a fantastic image. Fans of the film and the Blu-ray format should be very pleased.

Old Yeller Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Old Yeller's Dolby Digital mono soundtrack carries the movie well enough but doesn't add any spice to the presentation, which is expected. The track is very straightforward. Information pushes towards the center. Music always plays with a muddled, sharp edge, lacking any real distinguishing characteristics in music or, over the opening titles, lyrics. A few sound effects -- barks, gunshots, squealing pigs, a roaring bear -- are presented with enough sonic clarity for crude sound recognition but little more. Dialogue is fair, a little shallow at times but well prioritized and doing its best to play with a "phantom center" positioning.

Old Yeller Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disney's Movie Club exclusive Blu-ray release of Old Yeller contains no supplemental content. The main menu screen offers only "Play" and "Scene Selection" options.

Old Yeller Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Old Yeller stands as one of the titans of cinema classics, one of the few handful of movies that most everybody knows and that backs up its popularity with a simple story of love, loyalty, and a timeless, honest look at the way the world works. Of all the movies ever made, there are only a handful, maybe even less, that everyone should absolutely see. This is one of them. Disney's Blu-ray release, which is exclusive to the company's online movie club, does not include any extras and the audio is nothing to write home about, but the video presentation is very good and the film, of course, is a piece of cinema history. Highly recommended.