Savage Sam Movie Review (1963)

Presenting the sequel to the one that didn’t make me cry, a fact that is still disappointing to me. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.

A Brief Summary

(Taken from D23)

In this sequel to Old Yeller, Travis, now 18, and Arliss, 12, are alone at the homestead while their parents are away. Bud Searcy arrives with Lisbeth, his 16-year-old daughter, to announce the presence of marauding Indians in the vicinity while Arliss and his beloved dog, Savage Sam, a son of the famous hound dog, Old Yeller, are out hunting. Travis and Lisbeth locate him just as the Indians appear. The kids are taken prisoner and the Indians take off on their horses on the trek back to their distant village. Savage Sam, who had been knocked on the head by one of the braves and left for dead, now comes to life. It is he who leads Beck Coates, the boys’ uncle, and a party of men on the trail of the Indians. After a wild chase of several days duration, Savage Sam leads the rescue party to the campout of the warriors, and after a furious battle, Arliss, Travis, and Lisbeth are rescued.

What works

• The chaos that Sam causes feels redundant to the first movie. Thankfully it’s only a minor portion at the beginning of this film.
• Once the main plot starts, the movie moves forward at a pretty steady pace.
  • There was enough dialogue and action to keep me interested and not watching the clock go by. 
• I like that Travis is the one that escapes and joins the rescue party. It worked better story-wise than having both brothers helping to rescue Lisbeth or Arliss being the one to join the rescue party. 
• Arliss’s earlier mentioned idea of the two Indians fighting over Lisbeth was great and I loved that it actually happened later in the movie.
• Arliss seems to have emerged as being more responsible by the end
  • shortly before finishing the movie: then again maybe not.
• The ending was decent. I was satisfied as much as I could be with this movie. Overall the movie was fine. the adults were more enjoyable to watch than Travis/Arliss/Lisbeth (though all three had improved by the end).

What may or may not work

• Sam is supposed to be (according to the D23 website) the son of Old Yeller. HE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE OLD YELLER. Not to mention there was a puppy shown at the end of the Old Yeller that was also a golden retriever so watching Sam in this threw me off.
  • Side note: the dog itself was great, but story-wise, he didn’t fit.
  • Also, I don’t even think they mentioned Old Yeller in the movie at all.
• Arliss bugs me a bit more in this, but I also have younger brothers so I could easily relate to Travis’ frustrations when Arliss doesn’t listen to him. 
• The first 25 minutes are full of minor action, but it’s not until the Indians’ appear that the main action really begins.
• The Native American portrayal in this is more comedic/clownish than they have been portrayed in earlier movies. Very one-dimensional.

Honorable Mentions

• Uncle Beck’s reverse psychology with Arliss is great
  • also his character was probably my favorite in the movie.
  • But really though, Uncle Beck is the champ of this movie. Thank goodness he’s in it. 
• “Mama says getting married is the best way for two folks to get to know each other.” – Lisbeth
• “Mush”-Arliss (Mush is right. My sentiments exactly when Travis acts lovey-dovey with Lisbeth)
• Royal Dano is in this. Aka the original voice of Lincoln from Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. 
• Lisbeth’s dad’s big shot at the end was fabulous. And his fainting reaction after was the icing on the cake.
• The conversation between Arliss and Lisbeth’s dad was a great way to help end the movie. 

Side Questions

• After the Apaches capture the kids, they didn’t check for pocket knives? They didn’t do a weapons check? What the heck.

Would I watch this movie again?

• Only if someone wants to watch it with me. It was fine, but not anything that really would get me to choose this on my own.

If you’ve seen Savage Sam, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

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