Owd Bob

The lives and loves of Cumbrias sheep-farmers, their women and, indeed, their dogs (Owd Bob of the title being one such) in the early Twentieth Century are depicted with warmth and humour in this gentle Ealing style comedy-drama adapted from Alfred Ollivants immortal canine classic and directed by future Disney stalwart Robert Stevenson (Mary Poppins, The Love Bug etc).

Canny auld Scot, Adam MacAdam (Will Fyffe), and incomer David Moore (John Loder), engage in a battle of wits as they prepare their sheepdogs, Black Wull and Owd Bob respectively, for competition in a forthcoming sheepdog trial. To add spice to the tale, it turns out that one of the dogs might be a sheep-worrier, and, be warned, its a real heart-breaker when the guilty mutt is eventually identified and dealt with in the customary fashion. Pass the Kleenex please!

The romantic interest is provided by a young and extremely lovely Margaret Lockwood who, throughout the film, exudes natural charm from every pore. Later the same year, she would, deservedly, find international fame as the dazzling star of Hitchcocks The Lady Vanishes though here, playing MacAdams gorgeous, headstrong daughter Jeannie, her very considerable acting skills are not greatly stretched.

To summarize, a light-hearted, mildly sentimental piece of good, old-fashioned entertainment of the type we see far too little of these days. Definitely worth a watch.. especially for sheepdog fanciers!

(Trivia - John Loder later married Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr who,in my opinion, bore a striking resemblance to Margaret Lockwood).