The Yearling is a 1946 American Family Western film directed by Clarence Brown, produced by Sidney Franklin, and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

The screenplay by Paul Osborn and John Lee Mahin (uncredited) was adapted from Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings's 1938 novel of the same name.

The film stars: Gregory Peck, Jane Wyman, Claude Jarman Jr., Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker.

[4] Ezra "Penny" Baxter, once a Confederate soldier, and his wife Ora, are pioneer farmers near Lake George, Florida in 1878.

One morning, Jody and his parents discover that a bear has appeared and killed a calf and young pig from among their stock.

They catch up with the bear, but it is able to escape after Perk flees, Penny's gun misfires, and Julia is badly injured.

Rather than let his pet deer suffer an agonizing death, he follows his father's orders and kills Flag with the remaining shell.

Three days later, he is unconscious and adrift on the river in a canoe when he is rescued by a friendly boat captain, who returns him home.

MGM originally began production on The Yearling in 1941, with Spencer Tracy set to star as the patriarch, and with Victor Fleming chosen to direct.

[6] Rawlings marked a forest service map with locations for filming, specifically referencing the clearing she named "Baxter's Island".

MGM moved to the filming location, renovated the cabin, and built surrounding buildings to create a town for a set.

Herbert Stothart made arrangements of Frederick Delius's music, particularly Appalachia: Variations on an Old Slave Song, for the film.

"[11] It's been described as "a huge success" and "a remarkable film that truly is for the entire family" by TV Guide;[12] Variety said it is a "heart-warming story", that its "underlying power is impressive," and that "the underplaying is sometimes too static, but just as interest lags, the director injects another highlight.