Synopsis

Set in 1940s Yazoo City, Mississippi, the film follows lonely young Willie Morris as he grows up under the watchful eye of his parents and the pressures of small-town life. When he receives a terrier named Skip for his ninth birthday, the dog's loyalty and adventurous spirit help Willie find confidence, friendship, and a deeper understanding of growing up.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film is based on Willie Morris' 1995 memoir, which recalls his childhood in Yazoo City and his bond with his dog, Skip.

• Filming took place in Mississippi, including Yazoo City and Canton. Canton was used because Yazoo City no longer retained all the period locations needed for the production.

• Six Jack Russell terriers portrayed Skip. One of them, Moose, was already known for playing Eddie on the television comedy Frasier; Moose's son, Enzo, also took part in the film.

• Several of the movie's episodes were expanded or dramatized from the memoir rather than reproduced as strictly documented events.

• Morris attended a private New York screening in 1999, before the final editing was completed. He praised the adaptation, but died of a heart attack in 1999 and did not see the finished theatrical release. The film is dedicated to his memory.

• The movie was released by Warner Bros. in January 2000 and helped establish Frankie Muniz as a recognizable young performer shortly before Malcolm in the Middle premiered.