The Biscuit Eater

Although this Disney remake of a minor 1940 hit is typically sugar-coated, watching a dog bounding through the undergrowth with a bird in its mouth is not likely to be everyone's idea of wholesome family entertainment. As the pals who overcome the racial prejudices of the adults around them to transform a wild hunting dog into a champion, Johnny Whitaker and George Spell avoid the winsome boyishness usually portrayed in Hollywood outdoor adventures. But director Vincent McEveety tub-thumps the liberal American values and allows sentiment to turn to mush.