The Yearling (1946)

In the wake of the American Civil War, rebel soldier Penny Baxter, his wife Orry, and their 11-year-old son Jody, carve out a new life as pioneer farmers in the wilds of Florida. Jody, their only surviving child, shares a deep bond with his warm-hearted father, but finds his mother distant and cold, her spirit tarnished by the loss of her other children. In this untamed frontier, Jody’s yearning for companionship is unexpectedly met when a rattlesnake bite propels his father to kill a doe for its organs to draw out the venom. The tragic incident births an opportunity for Jody to keep the doe's orphaned fawn, a chance at an unconventional pet. A silent agreement is reached, and the bonds of friendship quickly forge between Jody and the fawn, a friendship that grows as rapidly as the fawn itself. However, as the fawn matures into a yearling, its natural instincts threaten the Baxter's livelihood, trampling tobacco shoots and feasting on newly-sprouted corn crops. This newfound menace is too much for Orry to bear, and a bitter conflict arises, pushing Jody towards the harsh precipice of adult realities. "The Yearling" is a poignant journey into the heart of post-war rural America, where the innocence of childhood intersects with the harsh truths of life, and where the bonds of family are tested by the enduring struggle for survival.

The Yearling is a drama movie featuring Gregory Peck.

The Yearling is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Shout! Factory TV and it's also available on DIRECTV.

It is also possible to buy The Yearling on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube or rent it on Spectrum On Demand.