Retro : Lassie Comes Home (Again)

Lassie deserves an extra serving of Kibbles ‘n’ Bits. The classy collie is celebrating her 50th birthday this week--that’s age 350 in dog years--and TNT is pulling out all the stops Monday with a Lassie’s 50th film festival.

The long-running TV series “Lassie,” which stars the clever, practically perfect canine and humans Jon Provost, June Lockhart and Hugh Reilly, also is seen in repeats weekday mornings on Nickelodeon.

The Lassie saga actually began 53 years ago with the publication of Eric Knight’s novel, “Lassie Come Home,” which told the story of a poor family who was forced to sell its beloved pet when they moved. Against all odds, though, the brave Lassie embarked on an incredible journey and found them.

MGM bought the rights to the novel, and Lassie, usually played by a laddie trained by Rudd Weatherwax, made her film debut in the endearing “Lassie Come Home.” Roddy McDowall, Elizabeth Taylor (in her second film role), Donald Crisp, Nigel Bruce and Edmund Gwenn also star.

The film festival continues with the first sequel, 1945’s “Son of Lassie,” in which Lassie’s son Laddie helps fight the Nazis during World War II. Peter Lawford, June Lockhart and Nigel Bruce star.

Elizabeth Taylor is reunited with the collie, whose beautiful coat never seems to need brushing, in 1946’s “Courage of Lassie.” The poor pooch returns from her military service psychologically scarred. And you guessed it, only her master’s love can cure her. Frank Morgan and Tom Drake also star.

Lassie has a different set of problems in 1948’s “The Hills of Home.” This time around, an elderly Scottish doctor helps Lassie overcome her unnatural fear of the water. Edmund Gwenn, Donald Crisp, Tom Drake and a young Janet Leigh star.

Gwenn and Crisp join their four-legged friend yet again for 1949’s “Challenge to Lassie,” adapted from the beloved doggy novel “Greyfriar’s Bobby.” This tear-jerker finds poor Lassie playing an ownerless dog who must fight for her life after being picked up for vagrancy in Edinburgh.

Jeanette MacDonald made her last film appearance in 1949’s “The Sun Comes Up.” In this sudsy tale, an orphaned boy brings joy back into the life of a bitter opera singer who blames Lassie for the death of her family. Claude Jarman Jr. also stars, and no, Nelson Eddy does not put in a cameo appearance.

The Lassie festival concludes with 1951’s “The Painted Hills.” Set in the gold territory of the High Sierra, the drama finds Lassie doggedly pursuing the vicious murderers of her master. Paul Kelly also stars.

“Lassie’s 50th” festival airs Monday from 6 a.m-11 p.m. on TNT; the “Lassie” series airs weekdays at 6:30 a.m. on Nickelodeon.