Wizard-8
Like so many of the live action movies made by the Disney studio while Walt Disney was alive, "Greyfriars Bobby" has all but been forgotten in the years since it was released to theaters. While it isn't an unsung classic, it is a perfectly fine family movie that modern day children and adults will enjoy. Compared to most modern day family movies, it's tone is very quiet and subdued, which at first may put off some viewers craving excitement and high drama. But these people will probably be quickly charmed by the thoughtful pacing and calm drama. I will admit that in the middle third of the movie, the story pretty much stops and there isn't really anything done to advance the plot or characters. But even when this happens, the movie is never boring, and has plenty of charm and colorful attributes. As I said before, this movie isn't a masterpiece, but it's all the same a feel good exercise that will make you happy you watched it.
boblipton
Donald Crisp may get the top billing, but it's the unnamed pooch who's the real star here. Bobby may belong to the farm, but he loves Alex Mackenzie, and when the old man is fired and heads to Edinburgh, the dog follows him. Alas, Mackenzie dies and is buried, but the dog walks with the poor cortege to Greyfriars graveyard and plops down on the grave, where grouchy Crisp doesn't want him, but kindly tavern keeper Laurence Naismith does. However, Kay Walsh, Crisp's wife, admires Bobby's rat-killing, and soon a competition arises between the two men for more than a decade, as the wee dog guards its master's grave.Based on Eleanor Atkinson's sentimental 1912 novel (it had already been plundered for 1949's CHALLENGE TO LASSIE, also starring Crisp), it's pure Disney sentimentality placed on a well-decorated lot in Shepperton, as well as fine establishing shots in Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside.Crisp may not deserve top billing, but he had certainly earned it. His movie career stretched back to 1908, when he became a member of D.W. Griffith stock company at the age of 26. When this movie came out, he was nearly 80. After one more movie, he retired and lived to be over 90.
MartinHafer
"Greyfriars Bobby" is a Disney live action film that is based on the real life dog, Bobby...who was a very odd dog to say the least! Like the beloved Japanese dog, Hachiko, Bobby's owner died and the dog refused to get on with its life...choosing instead to spend it's days at his master's grave. In fact, following the mans' death, the dog continued this routine for 14 years!! Talk about tenacious...and maladjusted! Regardless, it makes a dandy and very sentimental film, one which is best watched with a box of tissues nearby!So what did I like about the film? Well, most everything. The cinematography was unusually good for a Disney movie--really gorgeous and artistic. Also, having two distinguished British actors in the lead, Donald Crisp and Laurence Naismith, sure helped. A few things to note: First, if you visit Edinburgh you can see the sites in the movie. In fact, you can not only visit the pub and cemetery but you can also see the monument marking the grave of Bobby...just outside the church (kirk) gate. Second, the adorable dog which plays Bobby is said to be a Skye Terrier but looks nothing like a modern Skye Terrier. This is because nutty dog breeders have done a lot to change the look of MOST breeds in recent years. If you went to a dog show in the mid-1800s, you'd have a hard time recognizing most of the breeds. There has been that much manipulation of the genes in recent years that you'd barely recognize them.
Prismark10
This is a sentimental Disney story recounting the true fact tale of Greyfriars Bobby, a small terrier who was the faithful companion of Old Jock, the highland shepherd who died of pneumonia in Edinburgh. The dog spent sixteen years spending time at his master's grave and now a statue of the dog has been erected in Edinburgh. The film has been remade several times even with an altered story such as Hachi: A Dog's Tale with Richard Gere.The film here has been fictionalised as two local residents fight for the affection of the dog and the city magistrates taking the dog to court as he does not have a license and no one seems to own him. The children in the area rally to his rescue before the Lord Provost.Its a touching tale shot on location is Scotland however to expand the story as you cannot have the dog just visiting the grave of Old Jock, it just felt overlong as the caretaker of the graveyard spars with the local tavern owner for the affection of the dog and yet when it comes to the magistrate court he refuses to pay for the dog license which for the 19th century costs a princely sum.It might have worked better as a shorter film but I feel now stripped of nostalgia, kids watching this would get easily bored of the slight storyline.
AD
