Banjo
![Banjo](https://prod-images.tcm.com/v5cache/TCM/Images/Dynamic/i439/Banjo1947_862_1023x768_05182017090658.jpg)
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Richard O. Fleischer
Sharyn Moffett
Jacqueline White
Walter Reed
Una O'connor
Lanny Rees
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Synopsis
When her alcoholic father Gerald dies in a riding accident, nine-year-old Pat Warren must leave her Georgia home to live in Boston with her dead mother's wealthy sister. Although she bravely accepts the move, Pat insists that her bird dog Banjo, whom she has lovingly trained to hunt, go with her. After saying a tearful goodbye to her young friends and her father's servants, Lindy and Jasper, Pat is about to board the train north when she learns that Banjo must travel in the baggage car. To be near Banjo, Pat also rides in the baggage car and is befriended by Bill, the baggage man. As Pat heads for Boston, her aunt, the self-centered Elizabeth Ames, receives a letter informing her of Pat's impending arrival. Elizabeth, who has just broken her engagement to Dr. Bob Hartley for spending too much time with his patients, is packing for Bermuda, but reluctantly changes her mind when she learns of Pat's situation. As soon as she enters her aunt's lavish home, the free-spirited Pat is bombarded with criticisms regarding her manners. Although Pat maintains her cheerful disposition throughout Elizabeth's scoldings, she strongly objects when her aunt demands that Banjo be kept at all times in an outdoor pen. Despite Pat's pleas on Banjo's behalf, Elizabeth is adamant about the dog's place in her home. She even orders servant Jeffries to build a taller pen after Banjo escapes and chases a cat into her house. Banjo, however, soon outsmarts Jeffries and breaks free once more, but injures his paw in the process. After the wounded dog finds Pat, who is playing with her new friends, Judy, Beep and Skiddles, Pat takes him to see Dr. Bob. The kindly Bob treats the dog's paw and then learns that Pat is Elizabeth's niece. Bob entreats Elizabeth to go easier on Pat and Banjo, but she angrily refuses to listen. After Bob leaves, Pat comforts the distraught Elizabeth and later overhears Harriet, the housekeeper, telling her aunt that all of her problems would disappear if she gave in to her feelings for Bob. Hoping to improve her aunt's disposition, Pat pretends to be ill and demands to see Dr. Bob. Later, Pat confesses her ruse to Dr. Bob, who vows to continue the game until Elizabeth changes her mind about Banjo. Faced with Pat's "illness," Elizabeth agrees to be less strict with her and spends many enjoyable hours with her, Dr. Bob and Banjo. Elizabeth then gives Pat a leash for Banjo and allows her to walk the dog for the first time. When Beep suggests that they borrow a neighbor's shotgun to demonstrate Banjo's hunting skills, Pat, who has always yearned for a gun, eagerly agrees. In the park, Pat and Beep awkwardly fire two rounds, one of which lands in a passing police car. After Elizabeth is lectured by an angry police sergeant, she orders that Banjo be shipped back to Georgia. Unable to bear the separation, Pat slips away during the night and boards a south-bound train. In the baggage car, Pat is discovered by Bill, who notifies a frantic Elizabeth of her destination. Pat arrives in Georgia ahead of her aunt and Dr. Bob, who are flying down to retrieve her, and misses Lindy and Jasper at the station. Anxious to find Banjo, Pat takes the shortcut home through the swamp, and there is confronted by the infamous swamp bobcat. Just as the bobcat is about to attack her, Banjo, who has picked up her scent, rescues her. Banjo is then saved by Jasper, who shoots the bobcat, and Pat is happily reunited with Dr. Bob and Elizabeth, who promises to bring Banjo back to Boston.
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Director
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/RichardFleischer.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Richard O. Fleischer
Cast
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/SharynMoffett.133512.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Sharyn Moffett
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/JacquelineWhite.205180.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Jacqueline White
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/WalterReed.159242.2.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Walter Reed
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/UnaOConnor.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Una O'connor
Lanny Rees
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/LouiseBeavers.12301.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Louise Beavers
Herbert Evans
Theron Jackson
Howard Mcneely
Ernest Whitman
"banjo"
Robert Bray
Lee Frederick
Elena Warren
Harry Harvey
Jean Moorehead
Robert Winans
George Mcdonald
Lester Matthews
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/KennethMacDonald.118620.1.jpg?imwidth=188&height=141)
Kenneth Macdonald
Crew
C. Bakaleinikoff
Scott R. Beal
Lou Bonnie
Russell A. Cully
Albert S. D'agostino
George E. Diskant
Lillie Hayward
Lillie Hayward
Walter E. Keller
Adolph Kuri
Alexander Laszlo
Les Millbrook
Clem Portman
Darrell Silvera
Earl A. Wolcott
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Film Details
Technical Specs
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)
Articles
Banjo -
![Banjo -](https://prod-images.tcm.com/img/film-participant-detail/Featured-Artilce_Placeholder.png)
Banjo -
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Lillie Hayward's onscreen credit reads, "Produced and written by Lillie Hayward." According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, backgrounds for this film were shot in Georgia.
![](https://prod-images.tcm.com//img/global/logo-AFI.png)