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[Luke]

All-New Movie Based On The Classic Novel Debuts
On DVD And VHS December 21

Walt Disney Home Entertainment Presents
WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS

In Association with Crusader Entertainment, Elixir Films, Bob Yari Productions

All-Star Cast Includes Joseph Ashton as Billy Coleman,
Grammy® Winning Superstar Dave Matthews In His Film Debut, Renee Faia, Mac
Davis, Kris Kristofferson as Older Billy Coleman
with Ned Beatty and Dabney Coleman

Timeless Story of Friendship and Adventure
From Best-Selling Author Wilson Rawls

BURBANK, Calif., August 23, 2004 - Walt Disney Home Entertainment, in association with Crusader
Entertainment, Elixir Films, Bob Yari Productions, is proud to present the family film WHERE THE
RED FERN GROWS, coming to DVD and VHS on December 21. Based on the beloved, best-selling
novel by Wilson Rawls, this poignant coming-of-age adventure has been enjoyed as a book by millions of
young readers. Available to take home just in time for the holidays, this wonderful film has reaped
success at such prestigious film festivals as the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and the Heartland
Film Festival.

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS is a heartwarming and adventurous tale for all ages. The story
follows a young boy named Billy Coleman (Joseph Ashton, “The Education of Little Tree”) whose hard
work and determination help him realize his dream of buying a pair of Redbone Coon Hounds. Billy and
his hounds become an inseparable trio, as he trains them to become the best hunting dogs in the state.
Through a series of adventures, Billy realizes the meaning of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in this
timeless and touching story.

Sporting a stellar cast, WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS features the talents of Joseph Ashton as
Billy Coleman, Grammy®-Award Winning Superstar Dave Matthews in his film debut, Renee Faia (“And
The Beat Goes On”), Mac Davis (“North Dallas Forty”), Kris Kristofferson (“Blade,” “Lone Star”) as
Older Billy Coleman, with Ned Beatty (“Rudy,” “Deliverance”) and Dabney Coleman (“Stuart Little,”
“Tootsie”). The film includes music from Wynona, Alison Krauss (featured artist on the “Cold
Mountain” soundtrack), Jerry Douglas and Jenai.

Screenplay by Doug C. Stewart and Eleanor Lamb and Lyman Dayton and Sam Pillsbury. Directed by
Lyman Dayton, Sam Pillsbury. The film was produced by David Alexanian, Katy Wallin-Sandalis, Bob
Yari, William J. Immerman. Executive producers are Howard Baldwin, Karen Baldwin, Brian Avery,
Wayne Mooneyhan, Kurt Woolner.

Where The Red Fern Grows is the fifth best-selling children’s book of all time. It is estimated that 40
million people have read the book since its first publication in 1961. In continuous print since that time, it
is required reading in numerous elementary and middle schools, and more than two million new students
now read it each year. On the Library Association reading list and a Literary Guild selection, Where The
Red Fern Grows has been featured at the top of First Lady Laura Bush’s Ready to Read, Ready to Learn
literacy program.

About the author: Wilson Rawls grew up on a small farm in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. There
were no schools where he lived so his mother taught Rawls and his sisters how to read and write. He says
that reading the book The Call of the Wild changed his life and gave him the notion that he would like to
grow up to write a book like it. He shared his dream with his father, who gave him the encouraging advice, “Son a man can do
anything he sets out to do, if he doesn’t give up.” Rawls never forgot his father’s words, and went on to
create two novels about his boyhood that have become modern classics. The first, Where The Red Fern
Grows, was written with encouragement from his wife, Sophie. She edited his poor spelling, it was
serialized in the “Saturday Evening Post,” and Doubleday published the novel in 1961. It became a
classic young adult book and winner of the hearts of millions. Wilson Rawls is also the author of The
Summer of the Monkeys, the film version of which was released by the Walt Disney Company.

STREET DATE: December 21, 2004
Direct prebook: October 26, 2004
Distributor prebook: November 9, 2004
Suggested retail price: $29.99 (DVD); $24.99 (VHS)
Run time: Approximately 85 minutes
Rated: “PG” For Thematic Elements
Bonus materials unrated
DVD aspect ratio: 1.85:1 enhanced for 16x9 screens
and on the same disc:
1.33:1 formatted 4x3
Sound: Dolby® Digital Surround Sound
DVD languages: In English with French, Spanish subtitles

Walt Disney Home Entertainment is distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., a recognized
industry leader. Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc. is the marketing, sales and distribution company
for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax, Dimension and Buena Vista videocassettes
and DVDs.

Crusader Entertainment, LLC is a diversified entertainment company that develops and produces a wide
array of projects with universal themes specifically geared to audiences of all ages.

Elixir Films was founded by David Alexanian and Alexis Alexanian in 2000 with the promise of
combining their substantial expertise in finance and film production to develop, produce and finance a
slate of passionate and compelling films. Elixir’s first production, the screen adaptation of Eric
Bogosian’s play Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, was released by the Independent Film Channel in 2004.
Elixir Films has also produced the Los Angeles premiere of Conor McPherson’s award-winning solo play
The Good Thief, with 2002 Tony® Award nominee Brian d’Arcy James reprising his Obie Award-winning
tour de force. Together with Russ Malkin of Image Wizard TV, Elixir Films is currently in production on
Long Way Round, an adventurous and irreverent television series starring Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting,
Moulin Rouge, Star Wars) and his best friend, actor Charley Boorman (The Emerald Forest) as they
travel around the world on their motorcycles.

Bob Yari Productions is a non-exclusive discretionary fund where Yari can choose to invest in films
produced by his companies, or fund outside productions. BYP has financed the Bull’s Eye Entertainment
productions Employee of the Month, Thumbsucker and Crash, as well as co-financing Ovation
Entertainment’s, House of D., which is David Duchovny’s writing and directorial debut, starring Robin
Williams, Tea Leoni and Duchovny.

Pre-order Where the Red Fern Grows on DVD from Amazon.com



Pictures from the Movie:


Joseph Ashton plays young Billy Coleman, seen here with one of his beloved Redbone Coon Hounds.


Billy Coleman (Joseph Ashton) walks with his mother (Renee Faia).


Kris Kristofferson portrays the older Billy Coleman.


Dave Matthews (of the Dave Matthews Band) plays Will Coleman in Disney's Where the Red Fern Grows, his feature film debut.

Images copyright Disney.


Pre-order Where the Red Fern Grows on DVD from Amazon.com

Read our Where the Red Fern Grows DVD Review

[MickeyMousePal]

I remember watching Where the red fern grows in my junior high school English class it remind me of Old Yeller but I don't think I'll be getting it.
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[Just Myself]

Ohh...

I watched the original film when I was 11 and thought it was very good. This has got me very excited! Can't wait for a trailer.
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[goofystitch]

I read the book in middle school and also saw the old movie. I am very excited for this DVD.

[SofaKing381222]

ME TOO! I read it in 4th grade and later saw the movie! Its so good!! I have to get this!
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[disneyfella]

is this an independant film that Disney bought, like The Straight Story, or was this a Wonderful World of Disney movie? And, are there any clude as to bonus features?.......my interest is peaked, but I'm not saying this is a for sure buy yet.
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[indianajdp]

I can't watch this.

WARNING...POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD!!!















My 3rd grade teacher read this to us in class over the course of a schoool year and by the end we were all crying hysterically. I can't take that hell again
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[Luke]

I've updated the first post with some photos from the film. Intentionally not reading the post before me, as I never read the book and I'm looking forward to seeing this movie.

To address an earlier question, no, this is not a Wonderful World of Disney movie. It's an indie which made the film festival circuit and is now being picked up by Disney for distribution. That should have been obvious from all those studio names in the press release.

[Just Myself]

OHH!! Where'd ya get them pics?
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[Just Myself]

That artwork is choice.
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[That1GuyPictures]

I have no idea why I didn't read about this earlier!
It sounds extremely exciting, and I'll definately be giving it a rent!
I loved the older version, and the cast sounds pretty cool.
I'm actually fairly glad to hear it's not a made-for-tv or straight-to-video release, because that would probably detract from it's quality. I also always appreciate it when Widescreen and Full screen versions are included on the same disc, or are released seperately. It's always better than getting a full screen transfer only, or forcing those who don't prefer widescreen to watch widescreen only.

It satisfies the best of both worlds. I wish Disney would do this more consistantly.

[DisneyGirl]

I read this book in the fourth grade, and I LOVED it! I made my mom buy me a copy and I read again on my own.
In the ninth grade, we read it again, and by then I'd read it at least ten times. I LOVE this book, I turn into a weeping, sniveling little lump by the end. I can't WAIT for the DVD! I actually have two copies of the original movie and two of the sequel (I'm not entirely sure why, but I do.)
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[Luke]

I've just posted my review here:
http://www.ultimatedisney.com/wheretheredferngrows.html

[Matt]

I just finished watching this movie, and I really enjoyed it! i actaully like it better than Old Yeller. This movie was a heart warming touching story. I will be watching the original movie as well because I had bought them in the 5 dollar rack at walmart a couple years back lol.
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[jeremy88]

gee, I remember I tried to avoid reading this book for some time.

First, my 4th grade teacher slams it on my desk and says to read it. I didn't.

Then, one of my friends gave it to me and was like..."you should read it." I still did not read it.

AND THEN! In 7th grade our English class was forced to read it, and write an essay on it.
"BUT I DON'T CARE ABOUT RED FERNS AND WHERE THEY GROW, GOSH DARN IT!"
To my surprise I actually did enjoy reading it! Good book I wanna go to the Ozarks and and catch a coon.

Guess fate was just dying for me to read it!

I saw the old movie, I suppose I will see this one too. Wow its actually been out for while too.
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[blackcauldron85]

[Barbossa]

[Matt]

[jeremy88]

lol, well when I found that out after reading the dang book, I actually did care where red ferns grow heh. Going back to my memory, I think its not really where the location of it grows, but its planted randomly by an angel or something. I think anyways, havent read it since 2002 lol.

I guess the title and rather uninteresting cover is what kind of turned me off three times. Well you know what they say "never judge a book by its cover" I learned my lesson lol.
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