New film to bring "the real Lassie"

The new Lassie movie is a better reflection of the dog's character than previous incarnations, says its British director.

All of the dog's television and film adventures – including 11 full-length films and 675 episodes –were inspired by the 1940 book Lassie Come Home, by Eric Knight.

It focuses on the loving bond between the collie and a young boy from a poor family. He lives in Yorkshire, however, and not the American prairies seen on Lassie's screen appearances so far.

Charles Sturridge's new effort – set in pre-World War II Britain – brings Lassie home. Starring Peter O'Toole and Samantha Morton, it focuses on lessons of loyalty, determination and love.

Sturridge, who wrote and directed, explained the difference between the Lassie we know and his version.

"What drew me to doing it was reading the original book," he said. "I was aware of Lassie vaguely as a child as a black and white flickering object in the corner of the room.

"The Lassie that I knew was an American character based on the TV series that lived on a farm and rescued people from falling down wells."

Reading the book, then, came as a surprise. He said: "What I found was an unexpectedly muscular story which I felt had interesting themes in it, a great sense of landscape and characters who were enjoyable."

Like all previous Lassie incarnations, though, Sturridge's will be from the blood line of the original star – Pal. Lassie the ninth, aged 8, has managed feats including swimming across Loch Ness for the new film.