Savage Sam on the Disney Wiki 

Skip to Content Skip to Wiki Navigation Skip to Site Navigation

Savage Sam is the 1963 film sequel to Old Yeller, written by Fred Gipson. It was inspired by the story of former Apache captive Herman Lehmann, whom Gipson had seen give an exhibition when he was a child. Norman Tokar directed the live-action film, which was released by Walt Disney on June 1, 1963.

Savage Sam is Old Yeller\'s son (although he was called Young Yeller in the movie and also looked different). He is a Bluetick Coonhound, and every bit as courageous and loyal as his father, as well as an incredibly keen tracker. He mostly likes chasing a bobcat, sometimes with Arliss.

Brian Keith plays the boys\' Uncle Beck (referred to as Jim\'s younger brother) who comes by to check on how they are doing and gives advice to Travis on how to handle Arliss a little better. ("All little brothers hate bossing. You\'ve got to learn how to outfigger him, Travis.")

In 1870, 18-year-old Travis is left in charge of his precocious 12-year-old brother, Arliss, on the family farm in Texas, while their parents visit an ailing grandmother. While Arliss and his dog, Savage Sam, are tracking a wildcat, Travis is warned by Bud Searcy that renegade Apache Indians are in the area. When Travis joins Bud\'s 17-year-old daughter, Lisbeth, in a search for Arliss, all three are captured by a band of Apaches led by a Comanche. The boys\' Uncle Beck witnesses the scene and manages to wound the Indian leader, but his horse is shot by one of the braves, allowing the leader and his followers to escape with the captives. Beck alerts the U. S. Cavalry, but the Indians split into three groups and ride for the hills; in the confusion, Travis escapes but is knocked unconscious and left to die. Beck and his posse of five find Travis and Savage Sam, set out in pursuit of the other captives, and eventually find the Indians in a valley fighting over Lisbeth. Although posse member Pack Underwood, bent on revenge for the massacre of his family, fires a shot that alerts the Indians to their planned ambush.

Characters: Jim Coates | Katie Coates | Travis Coates | Arliss Coates | Jumper | Old Yeller | Bud Searcy | Lisbeth Searcy | Burn Sanderson | Rose | Savage Sam | Uncle Beck | Wily Crup | Broken Nose | Ben Todd | Pack Underwood