Parents' Guide to

Lassie (1954)

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

One collie, 20 years of old-fashioned family adventures.

TV Hulu Drama 1954
Lassie (1954) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Steeler95
Steeler95 Adult
November 14, 2020
age 8+
Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
February 15, 2016
age 4+

Fine show in general, but look out for a few problem areas.

This show may or may not appeal to kids today. It'll probably appeal to some kids, but definitely not to others. 1950s values, both good and bad, are shown. Many of the show's values are good, such as leadership, loyalty, patriotism, hard work and looking out for others. Other values are less admirable, such as the nonexistence of nonwhites. Then there are the outdated roles of men and women. If gender-specific tasks were the only issue, all you'd have to do would be to tell children that times were different then. But a few things about this series, such as men not even wanting anything to do with certain aspects of the "women's 'sphere'", this gender stereotyping goes somewhat beyond "mere" gender tasks and gender roles. This is pretty much a "know your kid" show. More details can be found in my review of TIMMY AND LASSIE.
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What's the Story?

LASSIE (1954-1974) is the classic hit series featuring canine super heroine Lassie living in an American farming community. The series first features the dog living with 11-year-old Jeff Miller (Tommy Rettig), his mom Ellen (Jan Clayton), and Gramps (George Cleveland). But a few years later, she goes to live with Ruth (played by Cloris Leachman and later June Lockhart) and Paul Martin (played by John Sheppold and Hugh Reilly, respectively), and their adoptive son Timmy (Jon Provost). Life on the farm with Timmy is exciting, but her services are later needed by a unit of the United States Forest Rangers. Ultimately, she ends up settling down at a children's home, where she continues to protect humans and animals alike.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

From saving people trapped in wells and caught in bear traps, to independently leading ailing dogs to the downtown veterinarian's office, Lassie tells the tales of a canine heroine who is often smarter and more talented than humans. But the show, and its furry lead character, also reflect many of the post-World War II values of the time, including the importance of family, working hard, and being loyal. Meanwhile, Lassie serves as the show's matriarch, a role defined by the patriarchal values of the time, thanks to her natural capacity to identify everyone's needs, as well as her willingness to serve them.

While the years spent with Timmy are certainly the most popular for Lassie (the syndication title for which is Timmy and Lassie), the show's 20-year run manages to survive various cast switches, as well as the dog's various lifestyle changes. To date, the show continues to play a role in American popular culture, and Lassie herself continues to be known as one of the greatest TV stars of all time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how TV characters, human or otherwise, can remain popular even after a show is over. What is it about those characters that give them their longevity?

  • Who are some of your favorite classic TV characters? Are there any modern TV characters who you think will be popular 30 years from now?

  • How has the depiction of families changed over the years? Does anything about how the families in Lassie are portrayed suprise you?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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