D: William Wellman. Walter Brennan, Phil Harris, Brandon de Wilde, Sidney Poitier. James Street novel of small boy (de Wilde), an elderly man (Brennan), and the basenji dog that brings joy into their lives is basis for easy-going, poignant film, set in the South.

D: Fred Wilcox. Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Morgan, Tom Drake, Selena Royle, George Cleveland, Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer. Third of the MGM Lassie movies has a radiant Taylor trying to rehabilitate the collie after his combat experiences during WW2. Despite title, the dog in question is called Bill, not Lassie, though played by the same collie who starred in the other studio films. Filmed on beautiful locations in Canada.

D: Robert Stevenson. Dorothy McGuire, Fess Parker, Tommy Kirk, Kevin Corcoran, Jeff York, Beverly Washburn, Chuck Connors. Disney's first film about a boy and his dog, from Fred Gipson's popular novel, is still one of the best. Atmospheric recreation of farm life in 1869 Texas, where Kirk becomes attached to a yellow hunting dog. Sequel: SAVAGE SAM.

D: Vincent Sherman. Ida Lupino, Dennis Morgan, Joan Leslie, Jack Carson, Gladys George, Julie Bishop. Intriguing but artificial story of strong-willed Lupino pushing younger sister Leslie into show business career. Holds up until improbable finale, although it seems unlikely that Broadway would cheer Leslie as the greatest discovery of the age. Morgan and Carson (in first of several teamings) match Lupino's fine performance.