Thunder in the Valley

This is a great movie, given the era. It is not true to the original book, but close enough. The sheepdog trials are excellent, however, when you compare them to the travesties portrayed in the Lassie movies. The course is a possible but difficult one and certainly would indicate a dog's skill if it could be achieved. Whereas, in the book Auld Bob is supposed to be the superior dog, the movie portrays Red Wull as the dog with the real skill and style of a working sheepdog. Hey, I'm a Border Collie geek--what do you expect?

When making a "Lassie knockoff" there are two actors Hollywood could cast to remind audiences of the regular series: Donald Crisp or Edmund Gwenn. It's Teddy who takes the lead in Thunder in the Valley, a Scottish drama about a man who enters his beloved sheepdog in a contest. And take the lead he does - what a performance! This was made the same year as Miracle on 34th Street, and personally, I think he won the Oscar for the wrong film. As Santa, he's merely Edmund Gwenn. In this Lassie flick, he absolutely breaks your heart.

This is not light family fare. Teddy and Reginald Owen play lifelong rivals whose children, Peggy Ann Gardner and Lon McAllister, fall in love. As if that isn't a big enough thorn in their sides, Reginald has his heart set on winning the prized cup during the sheepdog contest. Teddy has won the past three years in a row, and he certainly doesn't want to lose to his enemy. And if that isn't enough, there's a killer dog on the loose destroying farmers' sheep. Even if you think you've made it through Challenge to Lassie and can handle this one, think again. The absolutely heart wrenching ending will probably have you in tears - I certainly was - and although you can appreciate Edmund Gwenn's against-type performance, it might not be worth it. It certainly gives "Auld Lang Syne" a tragic meaning.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to upsetting scenes involving animals, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

This is a passable story of young love in the Highlands, with a little bit about Sheepdogs thrown in for color, I guess. The book from which this movie was taken "Bob, Son of Battle" is quite a different story. Considered a children's book by many (which it is NOT!) the tale is of a legendary working dog that is bigger than life at times, and his rival, the evil Red Wool. One of the two is a sheep killer.

The movie waters down the relationship between father and son, and in true Hollywood fashion of the 40's makes all right in the world at the conclusion.

I should not have expected too much from the movie...I have read about six to eight books a month, over the past 50 years, and of everything I have read, "Bob, Son of Battle" stands out as the BEST book I've ever come across. So disappointed with the movie I was sure to be.

If you can find this one on TV watch it...but READ the book, you will love it!