Savage Sam

Semi-sequel to Old Yeller. I haven't read the book, so I don't know if the author actually intended it to be a sequel or not...need to pick it up. Anyway, unlike the description on the back of the box, however, Savage Sam is never said to be the son of Old Yeller, he's just the dog that Travis and Arliss now sort of own. More hound than Yeller's lab.
Basic story line has Travis, Arliss, and Lizbeth captured by "savage Indians" (Apaches except for one Commanche) who also stole some horses. Savage Sam, after recovering from an injury sustained while trying to stop the kidnapping, hits their trail, with the boys uncle and a gang of helpers not far behind. Has a few plot holes: constantly points out the one Commanche with the Apaches, but never tries to explain why he is there, and he dies with all the rest of the Indians; doesn't explain why the Indians stole them, or the horses after 10 years of no raids; really botches up the ways of Native Americans, but then again, didn't most movies in the 60s do that? In the end, though, most of the movie focuses on Arliss spoiled behavior (after 5 years, he is still a spoiled brat in need of a good spanking or ten) and on Travis's and Lizbeth's "romance." Sam's main purpose in being in the movie is the track down his kidnapped family, but most of time we see more of Travis than we do of Sam. I wouldn't recommend this for young kids since all of the Indians get killed at the end.