Lassie & Flipper: Warner Home Video celebrates the DVD debut of five of the best-loved family films of all time, starring animal heroes Lassie and Flipper in the original film classics that inspired generations of children. Lassie Come Home, the first full-length Lassie feature starring Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowall and Lassie, everyone’s favorite canine hero, will arrive for the very first time on DVD August 24 along with two sequels -- Son of Lassie and The Courage of Lassie. In addition, the two “fintastic” dolphin adventures Flipper and Flipper's New Adventure, will make their DVD debuts. Each will be priced at $14.97 SRP.

About Lassie...

Created by British writer Eric Knight for a 1938 Saturday Evening Post short story, Lassie was released in book form as “Lassie Come Home” in 1940. The novel met with immediate popularity in the United States as well as in Great Britain, and when it was made into the 1943 feature film, Lassie became an American embodiment of courage, faithfulness, and determination, ideals which still resonate deeply with families today.

Lassie Come Home (New to DVD)

Starring young Elizabeth Taylor (in only her second film), Roddy McDowall,

Lassie Come Home is the first of the seven full-length Lassie feature films made between 1943 and 1953 which inspired the subsequent long-running television series. Described by Leonard Maltin as "Winning and wonderful; One of the all-time great family films," Lassie Come Home chronicles the initial adventure of the faithful collie who, after being sold by her poor family struggling to survive the depression, embarks on a danger-filled 1,000 mile journey to return home.

Son of Lassie (New to DVD)

This war-themed film sequel to Lassie Come Home features June Lockhart and Peter Lawford playing the adult roles that Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowall portrayed as children. At the height of World War II, dogs are being trained to assist the war effort and Lassie's son, Laddie, sneaks off with his owner (Lawford), who’s joined the army and is headed for his first bombing mission over Nazi-occupied Norway.

The Courage of Lassie (New to DVD)

The third Lassie feature centers around Bill, a pup who's been separated from his mother. At first, he has no one to love except other animals, until he's found by a young girl (Elizabeth Taylor), who adopts him and raises him for her own. But a tragic car accident separates the two and Bill becomes drafted for a WW II K-9 unit until battle fatigue overwhelms him. He turns vicious and has to be rehabilitated once he returns home.

About Flipper...

Much like Lassie, Flipper has become a favorite American icon, so well recognized that old and young can still hum along if anyone even whispers “Flip-per Flip-per, faster than light-ning, No one you see is smarter than he…” Flipper is best known for being playful, mischievous, and child-like as he continually lures his owners into scrapes, and then helps them get out again. Flipper was portrayed by a female dolphin named Mitzi who nudged wayward boats to safety, knocked guns out of poachers' hands with well-timed leaps and warned Bud and Sandy whenever danger lurked; a male stunt dolphin, Mr. Gipper, performed all of Flipper’s tail-walking scenes.

Flipper (New to DVD)

This is the original 1963 Flipper feature film that inspired two television series, a sequel, and a 1996 remake. Directed by James B. Clark, the film stars Luke Halpin (Sandy), who also starred in the 1964 TV series, and Chuck Connors (star of the TV hit “The Rifleman”) as Sandy’s father.

After Sandy nurses a wounded dolphin back to health, his fisherman father wants his son to return Flipper to his natural habitat. At first, Sandy doesn’t want to give him up, but after Flipper rescues Sandy from a shark, the boy experiences a change of heart and offers the dolphin his freedom.

Flipper's New Adventure (New to DVD)

Flipper's back with new friends and new adventures. This time he's got to help rescue an English family that's being held captive by modern-day pirates. Filmed on location in the Bahamas and Key Biscayne, Florida, Luke Halpin (Sandy) and Flipper save the day once again.

All DVDs are close-captioned with English language mono soundtracks. The Lassie films are available in their standard original aspect ratios, while the Flipper films are available in their widescreen original aspect ratios.