The Incredible Journey is a 1963

1963 in film

The year 1963 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* June 12 - Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rex Harrison and Richard Burton premieres at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City....

 live-action Walt Disney

Walt Disney

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...

 film based on the novel, The Incredible Journey

The Incredible Journey

The Incredible Journey, by British author Sheila Burnford, is a children's book first published by Hodder & they travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness searching for their beloved masters. It reveals the suffering and stress of an arduous journey, together with the unwavering loyalty and...

, by Sheila Burnford

Sheila Burnford

Sheila Philip Cochrane Burnford, née Every, was a British novelist.Born in Scotland but brought up in various parts of the United Kingdom, she attended St. George's School, Edinburgh and Harrogate Ladies College. In 1941 she married Doctor David Burnford, with whom she had three children. During...

. Narrated by Rex Allen

Rex Allen

Rex Elvie Allen was an American film actor, singer and songwriter, known as the Arizona Cowboy, particularly known as the narrator in many Disney nature and Western film productions. For contributions to the recording industry, Allen was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.-Family...

, the film follows the adventure of three pets, Luath the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...

, Bodger the Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...

, and Tao the Siamese cat

Siamese (cat)

The Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Oriental cat. The origins of the breed are unknown, but it is believed to be from Thailand. In Thailand, where they are one of several native breeds, they are called Wichian Mat...

, as they journey 250 miles through the Canadian wilderness to return to their home.

Plot

The Hunter Family leave their two dogs and cat with their friend John Longridge to watch while they are abroad. When Longridge leaves for a hunting trip, the animals also depart on their own journey in an attempt to get back to their real home. Longridge believes the animals are being cared for by a neighbor who is taking care of his house, while the neighbor thinks he has taken them along with him, so it is a few weeks before anyone knows the pets are missing. The three animal friends travel 250 miles through the sparsely populated wilderness of northern Canada, helping and encouraging each other as they encounter hunger, rugged terrain and various dangerous situations before finally arriving back home.

Cast

• Emile Genest
  Émile Genest
  -Career:Born in Quebec City, Quebec, as a young man Émile Genest served with the Canadian Navy during World War II. At war's end, he worked for a time in radio in his hometown before accepting a job with CBC radio in Montreal where he would eventually become a sportscaster, working in both the...
  
   as John Longridge
• John Drainie
  John Drainie
  John Robert Roy Drainie was a Canadian actor and television presenter, who was called "the greatest radio actor in the world" by Orson Welles....
  
   as Professor James Hunter
• Sandra Scott as Nancy Hunter
• Marion Finlayson as Elizabeth Hunter
• Ronald Cohoon as Peter Hunter
• Tommy Tweed as The Hermit
• Robert Christie
  Robert Christie
  Robert Christie was a lawyer, journalist, historian and political figure in Lower Canada and Canada East....
  
   as James MacKenzie
• Beth Lockerbie as Nell MacKenzie
• Beth Amos as Mrs. Oakes
• Eric Clavering as Bert Oakes
• Muffy the Bull Terrier
  Bull Terrier
  The Bull Terrier or English Bull Terrier is a breed of dog in the terrier family. They are known for their large, egg-shaped head, small triangular eyes, and "jaunty gait." Their temperament has been described as generally fun-loving, active and clownish...
  
  as Bodger
• Rink the Labrador Retriever
  Labrador Retriever
  The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
  
  as Luath
• Syn Cat the Siamese cat
  Siamese (cat)
  The Siamese is one of the first distinctly recognized breeds of Oriental cat. The origins of the breed are unknown, but it is believed to be from Thailand. In Thailand, where they are one of several native breeds, they are called Wichian Mat...
  
  as Tao

Remake

In 1993 Disney made a new version of the film, entitled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey is a 1993 American remake of the 1963 film The Incredible Journey, which was based on the best-selling novel The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford. Directed by Duwayne Dunham, it was released on February 3, 1993...

. Featuring the voices of Don Ameche

Don Ameche

Don Ameche was an Academy Award winning American actor with a career spanning almost sixty years.-Personal life:...

, Sally Field

Sally Field

Sally Margaret Field is an American actress, singer, producer, director, and screenwriter. In each decade of her career, she has been known for major roles in American TV/film culture, including: in the 1960s, for Gidget or Sister Bertrille on The Flying Nun ; in the 1970s, for Sybil , Smokey and...

, and Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox, OC is a Canadian American actor, author, producer, activist and voice-over artist. With a film and television career spanning from the late 1970s, Fox's roles have included Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy ; Alex P...

, the film keeps the same basic story line, but adds a subplot in which the kids are dealing with a new step-family. All three pets are renamed, the original breeds are switched, the gender of the cat switched, and the ages of the original Labrador and Bull Terrier are switched. It also has vocalizations of the animals' thoughts and communications with each other.