Driftwood (1947) Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan, Dean Jagger / American Drama Film

Driftwood is a 1947 American drama film produced and directed by Allan Dwan and starring Ruth Warrick, Walter Brennan, Dean Jagger and Charlotte Greenwood. The movie also features Natalie Wood as a little orphan girl who adopts a collie. It was produced by Republic Pictures, the largest Hollywood company outside the major studios, as a more prestigious release than the low-budget westerns and crime films that Republic specialized in.

Plot:
Driftwood (1947) tells the story of a young orphan girl named Jenny Hollingsworth, who has been raised in near isolation with her great-grandfather in a deserted town. After his death, Jenny wanders through the wilderness and witnesses a plane crash. The only survivor she finds is a collie dog, whose tag indicates it was being transported for medical research. Jenny insists on caring for the dog and is eventually taken in by Dr. Steve Webster, a small-town physician.

Steve tries to help Jenny and her dog, but faces resistance from the town’s mayor and locals. Meanwhile, Rocky Mountain spotted fever begins spreading through the community after infected ticks are accidentally released, and Jenny—along with others—is at risk. In a twist, it turns out the dog carries antibodies needed to produce a life-saving serum. With help from a distant research institute, the serum is administered in time to save Jenny. The film ends with plans for Steve to stay in town, marry his sweetheart Susan Moore, and adopt Jenny, while the dog remains as part of their new family.

Cast:
Ruth Warrick as Susan Moore
Walter Brennan as Murph
Dean Jagger as Dr. Steve Webster
Charlotte Greenwood as Mathilda
Natalie Wood as Jenny Hollingsworth
Jerome Cowan as Mayor Snyder
H. B. Warner as Rev. J. Hollingsworth / "Grandpappy"
Margaret Hamilton as Essie Keenan
Hobart Cavanaugh as Judge Beckett
Francis Ford as Abner Green
Alan Napier as Dr. Nicholas Adams
Howland Chamberlain as Hiram Trumbell
James Bell as Sheriff Bolton
Teddy Infuhr as Lester Snyder
James Kirkwood as Rev. MacDougal
Ray Teal as Clem Perkins

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