Good-bye, My Lady (film)
Encyclopedia
Good-bye, My Lady is a 1956
American
film adaptation of the novel Good-bye, My Lady
(1954) by James H. Street
. The book had been inspired by Street's original story appearing in The Saturday Evening Post
. As written, the story takes place in Mississippi
, but was Hollywood changed to the state of Georgia
, where some on location
filming occurred. Street was going to be the principal advisor on the film when he suddenly died of a heart attack.
The film was produced by John Wayne
's Batjac Productions
. Directed by William A. Wellman
, it starred Walter Brennan
and Brandon De Wilde
, with Sidney Poitier
and Phil Harris
in supporting roles.
Music composed and played by Laurindo Almeida
(guitar) and George Fields (Harmonica). Song: "When Your Boy Becomes A Man". Music by Don Powell and lyrics by Moris Erby.
A boy learns what it means to be a man by befriending and training a stray Basenji
dog and then is forced to surrender her to its rightful owner. Both readers of the story and film-goers found the boy's eventual loss of the dog unexpected.
Chosen for the film was My Lady of the Congo, a six-month old Basenji puppy of Miss Veronica Tudor-Williams of Molesey, England
. My Lady was flown to Hollywood to be followed later by four young dogs as doubles, including her little brother My Lord of the Congo and Flageolet of the Congo, subsequently an International Champion
. As it was, My Lady wound up doing most of the scenes. When not filming with then 13-year-old De Wilde, the dog spent all her time with him and a real attachment developed between them. Unknown to theater-goers that saw boy and dog parted in the film was the fact that the written agreement that supplied the animal stated that My Lady would become the personal property of Brandon De Wilde upon completion of filming.
The rare breed of dog was heretofore unknown to most Americans. Affected by either the story, the novel or the movie, many people were inclined to become Basenji owners at this particular point in time.
Brennan and De Wilde would unite again for the cameras in 1965 for Disney in Those Calloways
. That same year De Wilde would play producer John Wayne's son in In Harm's Way
.
" as it were and surrender the animal. With the reward money given, he is able to purchase Jesse the false teeth that he needs and is able to get himself a hunting rifle, remembering then that Lady is no longer with him.
in the United States by Warner Home Video
, on December 13, 1993. On December 10, 2010, Warner Archive Collection
released Good-bye, My Lady as a manufactured on-demand remastered wide-screen DVD-R
release.
In an interview for Turner Classic Movies
Gretchen Wayne, the daughter-in-law of John Wayne and the current president of Batjac Productions, was asked about a DVD. "I'm not sure who owns Good-bye, My Lady -- it might be Warner Brothers. It's a charming story and it should be released," she said.
1956 in film
The year 1956 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 5 - The Ten Commandments opens in cinemas and becomes one of the most successful and popular movies of all time, currently ranking 5th on the list of all time moneymakers * February 5 - First showing of documentary films by...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film adaptation of the novel Good-bye, My Lady
Good-bye, My Lady
Good-bye, My Lady is a novel by James H. Street about a boy and his dog. It was published by J. B. Lippincott Company in June 1954 and reprinted in paperback by Pocket Books in February 1978...
(1954) by James H. Street
James H. Street
James Howell Street was a U.S. journalist, minister, and writer of Southern historical novels.Street was born in Lumberton, Mississippi, in 1903. As a teenager, he began working as a journalist for newspapers in Laurel and Hattiesburg, Mississippi...
. The book had been inspired by Street's original story appearing in The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
. As written, the story takes place in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, but was Hollywood changed to the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, where some on location
Filming location
A filming location is a place where some or all of a film or television series is produced, in addition to or instead of using sets constructed on a movie studio backlot or soundstage...
filming occurred. Street was going to be the principal advisor on the film when he suddenly died of a heart attack.
The film was produced by John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
's Batjac Productions
Batjac Productions
Batjac Productions is an independent film production company founded by John Wayne in the early 1950s as a vehicle for Wayne to produce as well as star in movies. Its first release was Big Jim McLain with Warner Brothers in 1952, and its final film was also with Warner Brothers, McQ, in 1974...
. Directed by William A. Wellman
William A. Wellman
William Augustus Wellman was an American film director. Although Wellman began his film career as an actor, he worked on over 80 films, as director, producer and consultant but most often as a director, notable for his work in crime, adventure and action genre films, often focusing on aviation...
, it starred Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
and Brandon De Wilde
Brandon De Wilde
Andre Brandon deWilde was an American theatre and film actor. He was born into a theatrical family in Brooklyn. Debuting on Broadway at the age of 7, De Wilde became a national phenomenon by the time he completed his 492 performances for The Member of the Wedding and was considered a child...
, with Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier
Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field...
and Phil Harris
Phil Harris
Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
in supporting roles.
Music composed and played by Laurindo Almeida
Laurindo Almeida
Laurindo Almeida was a Brazilian virtuoso guitaristand composer who made many recordings of enduring impact in classical, jazz and Latin genres...
(guitar) and George Fields (Harmonica). Song: "When Your Boy Becomes A Man". Music by Don Powell and lyrics by Moris Erby.
A boy learns what it means to be a man by befriending and training a stray Basenji
Basenji
The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that was bred from stock originating in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world place the breed in the Hound Group; more specifically, it may be classified as belonging to the sighthound type...
dog and then is forced to surrender her to its rightful owner. Both readers of the story and film-goers found the boy's eventual loss of the dog unexpected.
Chosen for the film was My Lady of the Congo, a six-month old Basenji puppy of Miss Veronica Tudor-Williams of Molesey, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. My Lady was flown to Hollywood to be followed later by four young dogs as doubles, including her little brother My Lord of the Congo and Flageolet of the Congo, subsequently an International Champion
Championship (dog)
Championships are awarded to dogs who have passed through a process of selection at dog shows. Traditionally, a championship was received at a conformation show, but championships are now offered for dogs who have attained a high degree of perfection in other dog sports as well.-The conformation...
. As it was, My Lady wound up doing most of the scenes. When not filming with then 13-year-old De Wilde, the dog spent all her time with him and a real attachment developed between them. Unknown to theater-goers that saw boy and dog parted in the film was the fact that the written agreement that supplied the animal stated that My Lady would become the personal property of Brandon De Wilde upon completion of filming.
The rare breed of dog was heretofore unknown to most Americans. Affected by either the story, the novel or the movie, many people were inclined to become Basenji owners at this particular point in time.
Brennan and De Wilde would unite again for the cameras in 1965 for Disney in Those Calloways
Those Calloways
Those Calloways is a 1965 American film adaption of a book by Paul Annixter. Annixter and his wife Jane were writers of books for young readers. The film was produced by Disney and directed by Norman Tokar...
. That same year De Wilde would play producer John Wayne's son in In Harm's Way
In Harm's Way
In Harm's Way is a 1965 American epic war film produced and directed by Otto Preminger and starring John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, Stanley Holloway, Burgess Meredith, Brandon De Wilde, Jill Haworth, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda.It was the last black-and-white...
.
Plot
A young orphan boy Skeeter (Brandon De Wilde) is being raised in a swamp cabin by his poor and toothless Uncle Jesse (Walter Brennan). One night a mysterious noise breaks the silence. They later discover that the noise was caused by a strange breed of dog (My Lady of the Congo) unknown to them. Rather than a bark the dog has a yodel or laugh. The animal has keen senses and they decide to train her for bird hunting. In time the rightful owner (William Hopper) of the animal appears and due to the rarity of the breed wants it back. Skeeter is forced to "come of ageComing of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
" as it were and surrender the animal. With the reward money given, he is able to purchase Jesse the false teeth that he needs and is able to get himself a hunting rifle, remembering then that Lady is no longer with him.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Walter Brennan Walter Brennan Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:... |
Uncle Jesse Jackson |
| Brandon De Wilde Brandon De Wilde Andre Brandon deWilde was an American theatre and film actor. He was born into a theatrical family in Brooklyn. Debuting on Broadway at the age of 7, De Wilde became a national phenomenon by the time he completed his 492 performances for The Member of the Wedding and was considered a child... (as Brandon deWilde) |
Claude Jackson (Skeeter) |
| William Hopper William Hopper William Hopper, born DeWolf Hopper, Jr. was an American actor. He is best-remembered for playing Paul Drake on television's Perry Mason.-Early life:... |
Walden Grover |
| Phil Harris Phil Harris Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic... |
Cash Evans |
| Sidney Poitier Sidney Poitier Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE is a Bahamian American actor, film director, author, and diplomat.In 1963, Poitier became the first black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Lilies of the Field... |
Gates Watson |
| Louise Beavers Louise Beavers Louise Beavers was an African-American film and television actress. Beavers appeared in dozens of films from the 1920s to the 1930s, most often in the role of a maid, servant, or slave. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Beavers was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority, one of the four African-American... |
Bonnie Drew |
| My Lady of the Congo | Lady (a basenji Basenji The Basenji is a breed of hunting dog that was bred from stock originating in central Africa. Most of the major kennel clubs in the English-speaking world place the breed in the Hound Group; more specifically, it may be classified as belonging to the sighthound type... dog) |
Home media
Good-bye, My Lady was originally released on VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in the United States by Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video
Warner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
, on December 13, 1993. On December 10, 2010, Warner Archive Collection
Warner Archive Collection
The Warner Archive Collection is a manufactured-on-demand DVD series. It was started by Warner Home Video on March 23, 2009 with the intention of putting previously unreleased back catalog films on DVD for the first time ever. Using recordable DVDs, they custom burn discs for each order rather than...
released Good-bye, My Lady as a manufactured on-demand remastered wide-screen DVD-R
DVD-R
DVD-R is a DVD recordable format. A DVD-R typically has a storage capacity of 4.71 GB. Pioneer has also developed an 8.5 GB dual layer version, DVD-R DL, which appeared on the market in 2005....
release.
In an interview for Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies
Turner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
Gretchen Wayne, the daughter-in-law of John Wayne and the current president of Batjac Productions, was asked about a DVD. "I'm not sure who owns Good-bye, My Lady -- it might be Warner Brothers. It's a charming story and it should be released," she said.