In 1938, Eric Knight wrote a magazine story about an impoverished
Yorkshire family who are forced to sell their beloved collie dog to
a Scottish breeder. Against all the odds, the dog manages to find
her way home. Described by its author as a job of 'bread and butter
workmanship', "Lassie Come Home" went on to inspire films, radio,
and television shows, and a staggering array of merchandising which
have established her as 'the world's favourite dog'. Although
Lassie is an American icon, her creator was actually born in the
Yorkshire Dales, in 1897, where the young Eric Knight became
fascinated by the collie dogs used by local sheep farmers. After
his family split, he moved to America with his mother in 1912, and
began practising as a writer and artist. After serving in the First
World War, he married, settled on a farm, and purchased a collie of
his own, 'Toots'. Inspired by a return trip to Yorkshire, he drew
on his first-hand knowledge of working class hardship and his own
love for Toots to create "Lassie Come Home". Although MGM's
decision to film the story in 1943 made a star of Elizabeth Taylor,
it marked Lassie's rise to superstardom. The collie with the
trademark white feet, collar, chest, and blaze between the eyes
featured in six more movies before transferring to television in
1954. One dog after another was re-cast in the role of the canine
saviour with human-like intelligence, although viewers were not to
know that all dogs were males because, for moulting reasons, they
look more photogenic on screen. While the fame of Lassie grew with
every passing year, Eric Knight did not share in its success. In
January 1943, while travelling to Egypt, his plane crashed, killing
all on board. As the aircraft was on an intelligence mission, there
is speculation that it may have been sabotaged. Knight was
posthumously awarded the US Legion of Merit. The shooting for the
remake of "Lassie Come Home" begins in Ireland, in 2005. "Lassie"
is one of entertainment's most successful franchises with 10
feature films and more than 675 half-hour television episodes.
"Lassie", the TV series, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in
2004. This edition will contain a comprehensive selection of rare
film stills, cartoon strips, and book and magazine illustrations.
It is a perfect gift book for collectors, dog-lovers, or anyone
interested in the Lassie phenomenon.
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