HILLS OF HOME (1948) ** Country doctor treats virtually all patients with whisky in what should have been subtitled "Lassie Goes to Scotland." The canine protagonist is portrayed as tragically flawed here, fearful, cursed by the ambiguity of the forces of nature and ambivalance to the demands of humanity. No surprise there, they stick her head under water, then say that she's stupid and scared and not a proper sheepdog. Eventually the good guys chlorofom her, at which point they figure that she might be good as a drug test guinea pig. At least she's more charming, a better actress, and better looking than female support Janet Leigh. This film couldn't receive the blessing of the humane society today, as it did then, for the treatment of the star, and we've also come a long way in animal training. Best moments come from the endearing manner in which Scotsmen fall into arguments and exchange insults where other cultures might be prone to thinking compliments might do.