Courage of Lassie (1946 Fred M. Wilcox)

Opens with a long pastoral scene showing Lassie (here 'Bill' - played by Pal) at one with the animals - notably a brown bear, a fox and a raven - though also getting into danger escaping a persistent wolf in an amazing river chase scene. None of this comes back later, so it's a bit of a wasted plot opportunity (Lionel Houser). Anyway, the dog is adopted by Elizabeth Taylor and surrogate father Frank Morgan - until it inadvertently ends up as part of the war machine in the Pacific, accompanying a muddy patrol for no good reason other than to save them. Here, Pal displays his great acting in firstly the explosions and weary trudge through mud, then, as war has turned him savage, in unexpectedly snarly mode. The moment he gets his big close up like any human would have made me laugh. Finally, nice judge Harry Davenport saves the day (and the dog).

Canada / Washington, by Leonard Smith