The Magic of Lassie (1978)

You won't be disappointed!

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Well I was ten years old when my parents took me to see The Magic of Lassie at Radio City Music Hall and I loved it because I loved Lassie and watched the t.v. show every morning. I thought it was a very good movie and I will always have that memory. My parents told me I started everyone crying. The acting was done very well in my opinion with a wonderful cast. I enjoyed the songs as well and looking back at that special memory I wouldn't change anything about the movie. It was a unique story and if the songs and the story made me cry it's because it had an emotional impact on me and I'm glad my parents took me because it's a memory I'll always treasure as they are both passed away. So maybe I'm biased because I've always had a special love for animals and I saw Lassie as my childhood hero, but it's okay because it was a positive experience for me.

The Magic of Lassie was the beloved collie's last appearance on the big screen. Lassie was quite the box office draw in her day, but according to the box office the day had passed.Not that the film is all that bad. Maybe if the Sherman songwriting team who gave us so many things for Walt Disney back in their day had produced something like what they did for Mary Poppins, The Magic of Lassie might be better remembered. But nothing like Chim Chim Cheree or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious comes from this score.James Stewart is raising a pair of grandchildren, Stephanie Zimbalist and Michael Sharrett. He's got an acquisitive neighbor in Pernell Roberts who wants to buy his land and Stewart won't sell. On that trip he spots Lassie and thinks Lassie might have been his dog who survived a fire in the kennel as a pup some years ago.Roberts proves his case and Stewart reluctantly hands over the dog, but that doesn't sit well with young Sharrett or Lassie and they take off going a third of the country in different directions searching for each other.Lassie and Sharrett run into all kinds of interesting people. From Lassie's point of view the film starts to look like a big screen version of the Canadian show, The Littlest Hobo. Sharrett proves to be a plucky lad, but he gets himself in a heap of trouble.Of course this being a kid's film you know we're going to see a happy ending. Let's just say that in Lane Davies, a young lawyer who has eyes for Zimbalist, he proves handy to have around.The Magic of Lassie marked Alice Faye's farewell screen appearance and it was also James Stewart's last starring feature film release as well. I was disappointed they did not share the screen. Mickey Rooney and Mike Mazurki as a wrestler and his trainer have a couple of laughs themselves.Still though The Magic of Lassie did not do sufficient box office to interest anyone in any more films so far about the old collie.

I'm not a fan of the show or any other movies lol but I enjoyed this one. I found it to be somewhat entertaining. The songs are corny and some of the things you'll see in this movie are weird (especially if you're a movie buff and know actors and actresses) and if you have kids they will enjoy it. It's a good family movie. 8/10 stars

This is basically a revamp of Lassie Come Home. James Stewart is forced into giving up the family pet when a sly neighbour says she belongs to him. He takes the dog from California all the way to Colorado but naturally she escapes and makes her way home, just as Stewart's grandson runs away to find her. It's all one big cross country adventure that just doesn't come off as well as LCH. The young boy is annoying, the songs are awful, and Mickey Rooney's cameo with a wrestler friend is just downright strange. But, James Stewart is a treat as usual, really the perfect grandfather. 7/10