Savage Sam is a 1963 American Western film sequel to Old Yeller based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Fred Gipson. Norman Tokar directed the live-action film, which was released by Walt Disney Productions on June 1, 1963. It did not enjoy the success of the original. Plot In 1870, 18-year-old Travis Coates (Tommy Kirk) is left in charge of his precocious 12-year-old brother, Arliss (Kevin Corcoran), on the family farm in Southwest Texas, while their parents visit an ailing grandmother. While Arliss and his dog, Savage Sam, are tracking a bobcat, Travis is warned by Bud Searcy (Jeff York) that renegade Apaches are in the area. When Travis joins Bud's 17-year-old granddaughter, Lisbeth (Marta Kristen), in a search for Arliss, all three are captured by a band of Apaches led by a Comanche. The boys' Uncle Beck Coates (Brian Keith) witnesses the scene and manages to wound the Indian leader, but Beck's horse is shot by one of the braves, allowing the Comanche and his followers to escape with the captives. Beck alerts the U. S. Cavalry, but the Indians split into three groups and ride for the hills; in the confusion, Travis escapes but is knocked unconscious and left to die. Beck and his posse of five find Travis and his dog, set out in pursuit of the other captives, and eventually find the Indians in a valley fighting over Lisbeth. Although posse member Pack Underwood (Royal Dano), bent on revenge for the massacre of his family, fires a shot that alerts the Indians to their planned ambush, the youngsters are saved and the renegades captured. Cast Brian Keith as Uncle Beck Coates Tommy Kirk as Travis Coates Kevin Corcoran as Arliss Coates Dewey Martin as Lester White Jeff York as Bud Searcy Marta Kristen as Lisbeth Searcy Rafael Campos as Young Warrior Slim Pickens as Willy Crup Royal Dano as Pack Underwood Rodolfo Acosta as Bandy Legs Pat Hogan as Broken Nose Dean Fredericks as Comanche Chief Brad Weston as Ben Todd Behind the scenes Walt Disney bought the film rights to the novel in September 1961, prior to its publication in February 1962. The price was $25,000. Gipson was then hired to write the screenplay. He started in October at $1,250 a week. Gipson was an alcoholic by this time and he was frequently incapacitated by rages. On June 14, 1962, Mike Gipson,