Favorite Flicks: So Dear to My Heart

© 1949 The Walt Disney Co.
Running time: 82 min. Rated G

Based on Midnight and Jeremiah, by Sterling North
(Philadelphia: The John C. Winston Co., 1943)

 

PLOT

Growing up on Granny’s farm in rural Fulton Corners in 1903, Jeremiah Kincaid dreams of having a winning racehorse. When a little black lamb born on the farm is rejected by his mother, however, Jeremiah forgets all about horses and puts his efforts and affection into raising the lamb. Although Granny believes that keeping a farm animal (especially a black sheep) as a pet is a bad idea, she relents and allows Jeremiah to raise the lamb. Danny, as Jeremiah names him, soon grows into a rambunctious, mischievous young sheep, distracting Jeremiah from his chores and wreaking havoc on the farm and around town. Determined to prove Danny’s worth, Jeremiah decides to enter him in the Pike County Fair’s sheep contest. Getting Granny to go along with the idea will take some convincing, though, which Uncle Hiram and cousin Tildy are happy to help provide.

HUMANE MESSAGES & OTHER GOOD POINTS

• Encourages compassion for animals. Jeremiah forms a close bond with Danny, and although Granny is against keeping Danny as a pet, she gives in when she sees how deeply Jeremiah cares for the lamb. When Jeremiah wants to trade in their old mule, General Jackson, for a racehorse, Granny defends the mule as steady, loyal, and hardworking.

• Demonstrates humane, responsible stewardship of animals. Although Granny believes that animals have to earn their keep and says, “They’re just critters,” all the animals on the farm are treated with kindness.

• Shows the value of hard work. When Granny says they can’t afford to go to the county fair, Jeremiah is determined to raise the money. He gathers sarsaparilla and wild honey to sell to the general store in order to earn the money he needs.

• Promotes good character and positive thinking by integrating inspirational messages into both the live action and animated portions of the movie. One song, set to animation and titled “It’s What You Do With What You Got,” encourages the cartoon version of Danny to be proud and believe in himself despite the stereotypes people hold about black sheep. Another song (“Stick-To-It-Ivity”) applauds perseverance, and the wise old owl inspires Danny with adages such as “Every cloud has a silver lining,” “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

Hit the books. Read Sterling North’s Midnight and Jeremiah, the book on which the movie is based. Have students compare the movie to the book and discuss how they differ. (Recommended for ages 9 through 12, the 127-page book may be too difficult for younger readers.) Check your library for this book and others by Sterling North. click here for more recommended reading.

A sheep of a different color. Granny and others make assumptions about Danny because of the color of his wool. Discuss these questions with students: What stereotypes does Granny hold about black sheep? How is she proven wrong? What about the judges at the county fair? How can we recognize and avoid making stereotypes about people and animals?

Through Danny's eyes. Have students take a scene from the movie and rewrite it from Danny’s perspective. For example, how might he have felt during the scene in which Jeremiah drops his leash and Granny and Uncle Hiram chase Danny around the farm, trying to catch him? Other possibilities include the scene in which Danny makes a mess of the general store, Danny’s ordeal when he escapes his pen and spends a stormy night in the woods, or how he felt during the competition at the county fair.