Lassie (2005 film)

Lassie
UK theatrical release poster
Directed by Charles Sturridge
Produced by Charles Sturridge
Ed Guiney
Francesca Barra
Written by Charles Sturridge
Eric Knight
Based on Lassie Come-Home
by Eric Knight
Starring Jonathon Mason
Peter O'Toole
Samantha Morton
John Lynch
Peter Dinklage
Edward Fox
Music by Adrian Johnston
Cinematography Howard Atherton
Edited by Peter Coulson
Adam Green
Production
company
Distributed by Roadside Attractions
Release date
  • December 16, 2005 (2005-12-16)
Running time
 100 minutes
Country United Kingdom
United States
France
Ireland
Language English
Box office $6.4 million[1]

Lassie is a 2005 British-American-French-Irish adventure comedy-drama film based on Eric Knight's 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home about the profound bond between Joe Carraclough and his rough collie, Lassie. The film was directed, written, and co-produced by Charles Sturridge and is a production of Samuel Goldwyn Films. The film stars Jonathan Mason and was distributed by Roadside Attractions and released in the UK on 16 December 2005. Filming took place in Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man. The supporting cast features Peter O'Toole, Samantha Morton, Peter Dinklage, Edward Fox, and John Lynch. The film was generally reviewed positively by critics, but performed poorly at the box office.

Plot

Sam Carraclough, a miner who struggles to earn enough money to feed his family, sells the family's Collie, Lassie, to the Duke of Rudling, whose granddaughter loves the dog, leaving his young son, Joe heartbroken over the loss of his dog. The Duke's servant, Hynes, scares the dog, which keeps coming back so the Carracloughs have to keep returning her, and Hynes blames the boy. During the holiday season, the duke goes to the Scottish Highlands, taking Lassie. Lassie escapes and goes on a 500-mile journey to get home. Meanwhile, Sam Carraclough enlists in World War I to support his family. During her journey, Lassie dodges dog catchers and is taken by a circus performer (Peter Dinklage) and befriends his small dog. Later, after they are attacked by some men, which kill the small dog, an angered performer and Lassie chase the men away. Lassie reaches home on Christmas Day and faints outside the church in which the family is in. When the mass was over, the family found Lassie nearly dead and they take her home, the veterinarian tells the family that Lassie might not survive. When Hynes hears that Lassie has been found, he, accompanied by police officers, goes to the house to take Lassie and the family to the Duke's local estate. The duke lets the family keep Lassie by denying that it is his dog and fires Hynes. After Lassie recovers, the duke offers a job to Sam and his wife and a new house. The duke's granddaughter visits the family in their new house and sees Lassie's puppies. She and Joe play with puppies and the movie ends.

Cast

Production

This is the eleventh movie about Lassie, according to the producers. It is based on Eric Knight's 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home.[4] Filming took place in Scotland, Ireland and on the Isle of Man.

Reception

The film earned $6,442,854 worldwide.[5] The film-critics aggregator Rotten Tomatoes recorded 93% positive reviews from 70 critics,[6] while the film scored of 84 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 15 reviews.[7] A New York Times reviewer said the film "balances cruelty and tenderness, pathos and humor without ever losing sight of its youngest audience member" and also exclaimed, "This 'Lassie' exhibits a repertory of facial expressions that would put Jim Carrey to shame".[4] Empire's Anna Smith wrote "Thanks to a relatively gritty setting and an estimable adult cast, this sentimental story is rendered bearable for adults and children alike."[8] BBC's Neil Smith said, "The combination of everyone's favourite canine and eye-catching Irish and Isle of Man locations ensure this nostalgic shaggy-dog story sends you home with your tail wagging."[9]

Awards

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2007

Award Category Nominee
Critics Choice Award Best Family Film (Live Action)Nominated

Irish Film and Television Awards 2007

Award Category Nominee Result
IFTA Award Best Sound in Film/TV DramaPeter Blayney, Patrick Drummond, John Fitzgerald and Mervyn MooreWon

Audience Award

Award Category Nominee
Audience Award Best Irish FilmNominated

Women Film Critics Circle Awards 2006

Award Category Nominee
WFCC Award Best Family FilmWon

Young Artist Awards 2007

Award Category Nominee Result
Young Artist Award Best Performance in an International Feature Film and Best International Family Feature Film - Leading Young Actor or ActressJonathan MasonNominated

References

  1. ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lassie06.htm
  2. ↑ "Northern Classic Collies".
  3. ↑ "Thunder's Collies - Hall of Fame". DR Farms. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  4. 1 2 Jeannette Catsoulis (2006-09-01). "The Noblest Collie of All Bounds Anew in the Glen". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  5. ↑ "Lassie". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  6. ↑ "Lassie (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  7. ↑ "Lassie". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  8. ↑ Smith, Anna (2006-04-01). "Review of Lassie". Empire. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
  9. ↑ Smith, Neil (2005-12-14). "Lassie (2005)". BBC. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
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