New York, NY 2010: In modern times, oversized and aged “Old Yellers” have moved to the city to sniff out trouble and contraband for law enforcement. In olden days, slimmer and more youthful “Old Yellers” more freely ran the land.

Trent Ling’s all-time “Top 40 Movie Chart” ranks his critically chosen winners from his personal, unique, inexplicable, logarithmic, and long-deliberated mosh process.  Out of order, charted films up through 2012 will be revealed on this website. Enjoy! Visit “Movies” for more.

TWL Score: 6.5 (1957; Rated G; 83 Minutes)

Story:

Even 55 years after its release, passage of time only further enhances Old Yeller‘s greatness.  Upon a spacious family ranch and its surrounding wilderness set in the 1860’s, the golden dog comes to teach his family and filmgoers a thing or two about adventure and risk, loyalty and life.  Children and families would be very well served to add Old Yeller to their annual viewing menus.  It contains no expiration date.

Top 40 Catapults:

1.  Old Yeller captures and portrays rich and invigorating lives lived physically, inquisitively, and reflectively in natural and wonderful settings.  The arrival of Old Yeller himself injects another series of higher-level considerations and contemplations.  Eschewing a “Hollywood” ending, Old Yeller sets itself apart within its genre; and banking upon bare-bones simplicity, Old Yeller easily exceeds films so commonly crammed with too many notions, plot lines, and muddling suggestions.  Nostalgic and well chronicled, this film celebrates a bygone era of ironically deeper times.

2.  Old Yeller‘s conclusion remains one of the most storied and celebrated in cinematic history.  While painfully portraying a coming-of-age arc, it proves once again the resilience of children and their uncanny readiness to accept brutal truths.  Films today rarely bother or even aspire to convey what Old Yeller timelessly delivers in droves.

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