About the title
Sam Carraclough, a coal miner trying to earn enough money to feed his family, sells his collie Lassie to the Duke of Rudling, leaving his little son heartbroken over the loss of his friend. The coal mine closes and Sam loses his job. To survive, Sam sells Lassie to the Duke. But losing Lassie breaks Joe's heart. Even Lassie longs to return to Joe. She tries every trick to escape from Hynes, who looks after the Duke's dogs. Several times Lassie gets out of her cage and returns to Joe. But, remembering his deal, Sam brings her back to the Duke. Soon the Duke takes Lassie to Scotland. The Duke's granddaughter senses Lassie's longing and soon helps her escape. Lassie's long journey home to Joe begins. Along the way, she meets a traveling performer with a tiny dog named Toots and befriends them. One day the traveler runs into two robbers, one of whom kills Toots. But Lassie saves the traveler.