The Incredible Journey

Some animals are shot at with guns -- although none of them are hit, it is enough to scare the animals away. A duck hunt sees a duck being shot dead in the sky and a dog retrieve it. There are some aggressive scenes between animals. A cat hisses and claws at a bear when protecting a dog. The cat is later chased by a lynx before a gunshot scares the big cat away. Spoiler alert: A cat falls into a river and is washed away, presumably to its death -- it later emerges that it has survived. The animals constantly face the threat of starvation. In an effort to find some food, a cat catches a fish and a dog catches a rabbit -- the latter is seen lifeless between the dog's jaws. After trying to catch a porcupine, a dog ends up with the porcupine's spikes in its face, causing much distress.

Toward the end of the movie, a character is seen smoking a pipe and another a cigarette. Another character is seen rolling up a cigarette.

Parents need to know that The Incredible Journey is a heartwarming, 1963 Disney live-action movie -- based on Sheila Burnford's novel -- with positive messages around friendship and perseverance. It was later remade in 1993 as Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey. The movie centers around a cat and two dogs as they travel across the Canadian wilderness in search of home. As opposed to the 1993 remake, the animals are non-speaking, but they do encounter humans along the way, and there is a touching narration throughout. There are some moments of peril that may trouble younger viewers -- with the trio facing the constant threat of starvation and other animals. Spoiler alert: In the movie's most distressing scene, Tao, a Siamese cat, is swept into a river and is presumed dead -- but he later emerges alive. Animals are shot at but never hit, apart from a duck hunting scene in which a duck is shot dead from the sky. Some aggression is seen between different animals including when a bear tries to attack Bodger, an English bull terrier, and a lynx chases Tao. Luath, a Labrador retriever, ends up with porcupine spikes in his face, causing him much distress. There is some smoking toward the end of the movie, befitting the time period.

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