Greyfriars Bobby (Disney) (1961)

Life & Stardom Began At 40 (+30) For Alex Mackenzie of “Greyfriars Bobby” Alexander Mackenzie, who is 75 years young and retired from a lifetime of school teaching at the age of 61, is well on his way to a whole new career. He is now an actor and reaches movie stardom in Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby.” Shortly after his retirement from Scotland’s classrooms, Mackenzie began periodic work for BBC radio. A few years later — when he was about 70, he appeared in his first motion picture with the late Paul Douglas. He followed this with several other minor film roles, including a part in Disney’s “Kidnapped” released last year. Spry Alexander Mackenzie is now promoted to stardom, sharing top billing with Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith and Kay Walsh in “Greyfriars Bobby” in which he plays the most important and sympathetic role of his screen career. He enacts Old Jock, the poor shepherd who is immortalized through the loyalty and devotion of a little dog named Bobby — a true story from the pages of Scotland’s history. Mat BOB 1C DEVOTED FRIENDS . . . Alex Mac ‘ kenzie, as a shepherd, surveys the 66 99 A 2 Greyfriars Bobby was countryside with his devoted Skye directed by Don Chaffey. Hugh terrier, Bobby, in this scene from Attwooll served as Disney’s Walt Disney's Technicolor production, associate producer. Buena Greyfriars Bobby,” starring Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Mackenzie Vista releases. and Kay Walsh. t THE STORY OF “GREYFRIARS BOBBY” 4 il i THE Lammermuir Hills near Edinburgh a hundred years ‘| 4 ago, a little Skye terrier called Bobby grows up devoted only af f to an old shepherd, Jock (ALEXANDER MACKENZIE) who f q When old Jock loses his job because he is too old and ini iN firm to work, Bobby follows him to Edinburgh where he finds : ! him lying semi-conscious in a cart in the Grassmarket. ‘4 i Bobby leads old Jock to Mr. Traill (LAURENCE NAIi SMITH) in whose Dining Rooms the shepherd has always had ; i his mid-day meal on market days. When the kindly Mr. Traill, 4 i distressed by Jock’s ailing condition, departs to fetch a doctor, ‘ I the shepherd disappears into the night, with Bobby at his heels. I I After Jock has died in his sleep in a wretched lodging house, Bobby dodges the police and hides between the legs of 4 . the mourners carrying his departed master to Greyfriars Kirk i yard. ‘ I: After vainly attempting to enforce his rule forbidding dogs ‘ | to enter his kirkyard when Bobby insists on keeping a nightly a | vigil on old Jock’s grave, Mr. Brown (DONALD CRISP), i crotchety keeper of the grounds, gradually warms to the deit le i " voted little dog and even tries to give him a home in his , H lodge. A il fl Ih persuade him to share his hearth and lonely life, enlivened | only by the Edinburgh waifs who have helped him to keep ‘| ‘ track of the roving Skye terrier. a Ih The rivalry between the two men for Bobby’s affection ‘f} he finally leads to a case in the Edinburgh Court in which Mr. ] tT Hh. Mr. Traill is equally fond of Bobby and does his best to ; Traill is charged with harboring a dog without a license. The Ne trial is watched secretly by Mr. Brown from the back of the ; i court. ‘ K The ultimate dispute between Mr. Traill and Mr. and Mrs. ; I Brown (KAY WALSH) as to who shall pay for Bobby’s 4 t license, when they realize his life and not their principles is at | lj. stake, is interrupted by the waifs of Edinburgh who burst into ‘ G the court with the necessary funds collected in farthings and af half-pennies to pay for the license. ty i It is the kindly Lord Provost of Edinburgh who has the | last say when he tells the Browns, Mr. Traill and the ragged ‘| children that Bobby will belong to none, and to all. He is to be given the freedom of the City of Edinburgh. ‘| During the remainder of his fourteen years of life Grey1 friars Bobby, now a celebrity, runs free during the day, visit ing the Browns and Mr. Traill, playing with the children and a joining in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Pipe and ‘I Drum band parade on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. Every 4 night, however, he sleeps with Old Jock, lying on the humbie | mound of earth which marks the shepherd’s grave in Greyfriars j Kirkyard. a works for.a local. farmer.(GORDON JACKSON)... ‘I. ANOTHER GREAT STORY ADDED TO LONG LIST OF WALT DISNEY HITS Walt Disney adds another classic to the great tales he has brought to the motion picture screen with the current release of the Technicolor feature, “Greyfriars Bobby.” One of the world’s immortal dog stories, “Greyfriars Bobby,” by Eleanor Atkinson, was first published in 1912 and has gone through innumerable printings to become an international fiction classic. Hero of the appealing and colorful story is a little Skye terrier who, after his master died, kept a 14-year vigil at his grave. Produced at actual locales in Edinburgh, Scotland, the film stars Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alexander Mackenzie, and Kay Walsh. Don Chaffey directed for Buena Vista release. Real-Life “‘Bobby” A Real Movie Fan A little nineteen-month-old Skye terrier from the North of Scotland who plays the canine starring role in Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby” is an avid movie fan! Each day during filming at Shepperton Studios in England, his trainer, John Darlys, took him along to the studio projection room to view the “dailies.” These are the so-called “rushes” or the first viewing of scenes shot the previous day. Little Bobby’s tail would wag enthusiastically each time he would see himself appear on the screen. It became ritual for the film’s makers to have Bobby attend these daily screenings, usually reserved for the producer, director, film editor and the top stars only. “Greyfriars Bobby” is_ the screen adaptation of the true story of the little dog of Edinburgh, Scotland, who kept a devoted 14-year vigil at his master’s grave in old Greyfriars churchyard 100 years ago. Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alexander Mackenzie and Kay Walsh star in the Technicolor film directed by Don Chaffey for Buena Vista release. WORLD-FAMOUS NOVEL Since 1912, when it was first published, Eleanor Atkinson’s novel about the incredible devotion of a dog, “Greyfriars Bobby,” has gone through countless reprintings and is still considered one of the world’s most beloved canine stories. During filming in Scotland of Walt Disney’s Technicolor screen version, Director Don Chaffey discovered the novel’s popularity through the years has not waned and is still. required reading in many parts of the world. A little Skye terrier by the reallife name of Tam O’Shanter was personally selected by Walt Disney for the title role. Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alexander Mackenzie and Kay Walsh star as the principal people in Bobby’s life in the Buena Vista release. | Mat BOB 2B SCENE STEALER . . . Bobby, the Skye terrier that portrays the title role in Walt Disney's ‘Greyfriars Bobby,’’ gains the center of attention and Laurence Naismith’'s friendship in this scene from the Technicolor feature, starring Donald Crisp, Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. Buena Vista releases. Laurence Naismith Has Top Role in Walt Disney’s ‘‘Greyfriars Bobby”’ In the best of theatrical tradition, Laurence Naismith has been at his calling from childhood. As a result he brings life and color to the role of John Traill, kindly restaurant proprietor, in Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby.” The actor was born Laurence Johnson in Thames Ditton, Surrey England. At the age of twelve he appeared with a classmate, Laurence Olivier, in a school presentation of “The Taming of the Shrew.” This was enough to bend his ambitions toward the theatre, and six years later he got his first professional job as a chorus boy in George Gershwin’s musical comedy, “Oh Kay.” By the time he was 21 Naismith had graduated to assistant stage manager and occasional actor with the Bristol Repertory Theatre. He toured the provinces with this and other groups. At that time he met an actress named Christine Bocca. A year later they were married, and now have a son, John, born on March 15,. 1946. Naismith was co-owner of a thriving repertory company when England went to war. He served in the army artillery from 1939 to 1945. He returned to repertory after the war, and also was prospering in films. Then, in 1950, he accepted a leading part in “Colombe” by Anouilh. After that Naismith was welcomed in a succession of London hits, including “The Applecart” with Noel Coward, “The Burning Glass” and “The Lark.” In 1955 he portrayed Dvorak in “Summer Song,” and has devoted himself exclusively to films since. Among his recent pictures are “A Night To Remember,” “La Tempesta,’ “The Naked Earth,” “The Boy on the Dolphin” and “The Man Who Never Was.” He also will be remembered for his featured performance in Disney’s “Third Man on the Mountain.” In “Greyfriars Bobby,” the remarkable story of a canine hero, Naismith co-stars with Donald Crisp, Alexander Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. The film, directed by Don Chaffey, is released by Buena Vista. Mat BOB 2C NEW COMPANIONS .. . Edinburgh urchins in Walt Disney's Technicolor production of the world famous story of Greyfriars Bobby." The true tale of a dog's lasting devotion stars Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. Bobby, the Skye terrier, brings hope and laughter to