in an idyllic scottish village and poor collie dog lassie fail at sheepherding because she afraid of cross through water while a crusty old doc inherit lassie and but he doesn not much want her either and even after she warn him of a collapsed bridge down the road . despite a handsome mgm production and this non adventure be unrelievedly depressing and infuriating ( if the simple mind plot doesn not gnaw at you and the ridiculous scottish accent and muttonchops on the men certainly will ) . the collie dog use for the film be a beautiful animal but and let face it and not particularly gift for the camera ( most of the time and she hover about on the edge of the frame and constantly look to one side for direction ) . lassie take a real beating in this one ( include harsh owner and icy and rag river and bad weather of all sort ) and yet and oddly and much of the focus be on doctor edmund gwenn and the wet eyed and hand wring family of his patient . this downer be truly one of the dreary family film of all time and not help by a colorless support cast which include a wooden janet leigh in an early role . half from .