Deke, a runaway orphan from a boy's home, is arrested when he prevents Art Finney, a trainer for a wealthy California dog breeder, Andrew Garrett, from shooting "Rock", a renegade English setter and alleged animal killer. Garrett has Deke remanded to his custody and gives him a job assisting the (highly) resentful Finney and also working with "Rock", whom Deke insists has the makings of a fine hunting dog. The trainer and owner/breeder don't think so, but they accept the word and non-experience of a 17-year-old orphan?
Acting
Jack Chaplain's stubborn orphan energy carries the whole thing
Practical Effects
Actual trained setter doing stunts, no CGI nonsense
Production
Wealthy California dog-breeder aesthetic is accidentally hilarious
Director
Ellis Kadison
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Heather North later voiced Daphne in Scooby-Doo, so this is technically pre-mystery solving.
This film arrived right as Hollywood pivoted from Lassie-style dog heroes to grittier fare—making it a last gasp of earnest boy-and-his-dog innocence.
US
