Young Travis Coates is left to take care of the family ranch with his mother and younger brother while his father goes off on a cattle drive in the 1860s. When a yellow mongrel comes for an uninvited stay with the family, Travis reluctantly adopts the dog.
Tommy Kirk
as Travis Coates
Dorothy McGuire
as Katie Coates
Fess Parker
as Jim Coates
Kevin Corcoran
as Arliss Coates
Jeff York
as Bud Searcy
Beverly Washburn
as Lisbeth Searcy
Chuck Connors
as Sanderson
Spike
as Old Yeller
