This is a very different Ron Howard, troubled over his mother's second marriage, refusing to accept Earl Holliman as his stepfather. When he comes across a wounded German shepherd that seems quite wild, he nurses the pooch back to health and completely bonds with him. After Holliman and mom Jacqueline Scott agree that Howard can keep him as long as they first place and had to see if the dog's owner shows up, Howard and his sister Pamela Ferdyn ("Charlotte's Web") pray they don't, especially after one man trying to take the dog away proves not to be the owner. But then Andy Devine shows up and there's no doubt that "Smoke" belongs to him, leading to a rather shocking outburst by Howard that shakes the family to its core.
Usually cast in light-hearted parts even if there are dramatic moments, Howard proves himself to be quite the serious actor and able to play very disturbed characters. There's a scene where his aunt and male cousin come, leading to a fight between Howard and the boy his own age who just don't get along, showing the difference between country and city folk, and showing how dark a character he is playing. There's no rhyme or reason why someone like the nasty Kelly Thordsen would try to force a dog to go with him that obviously doesn't know him, as awkward as the scene where Ferdyn fakes a yowl type cry that had me reaching for my remote. This is a very dark and sort of depressing film, certainly not a family film, or at least one of a Disney like nature. The good performances didn't help the fact that this TV movie is a real downer.
Usually cast in light-hearted parts even if there are dramatic moments, Howard proves himself to be quite the serious actor and able to play very disturbed characters. There's a scene where his aunt and male cousin come, leading to a fight between Howard and the boy his own age who just don't get along, showing the difference between country and city folk, and showing how dark a character he is playing. There's no rhyme or reason why someone like the nasty Kelly Thordsen would try to force a dog to go with him that obviously doesn't know him, as awkward as the scene where Ferdyn fakes a yowl type cry that had me reaching for my remote. This is a very dark and sort of depressing film, certainly not a family film, or at least one of a Disney like nature. The good performances didn't help the fact that this TV movie is a real downer.