Plot Summary:Inspired by a true story set in Missouri, "The Trial of Old Drum" tells the story of a valiant golden retriever, Old Drum, an orphan dog that becomes a boy's best friend and is then forced to stand trial for killing a neighbor's sheep. Charlie Burden [Bobby Edner] is a typical eleven-year old boy growing up on a farm in Western Missouri. His summer days are spent helping his dad [Ron Perlman] run the family farm, while also finding time to go fishing at nearby Miller's Lake, always accompanied by his faithful golden retriever, Old Drum. Scheming with his best friend Dee [Alia Shawkat] to build a secret raft, Charlie nearly drowns, only to be rescued by Old Drum. But Charlie's life is turned upside down when his cantankerous Uncle Lon [John Schuck] accuses Old Drum of killing his sheep. The town is divided over Drum's guilt or innocence, and an old family wound begins to fester. Losing sheep in this part of the country is not taken lightly. Looking to rid the town of a sheep killing menace, Lon files a lawsuit seeking to have Old Drum put to death. Desperate to save Old Drum, Charlie and his father try to obtain the services of one of the state's best known lawyers, George Graham Vest [Scott Bakula]. At first hesitant, Vest is genuinely moved by Charlie's pleas to save his dog and agrees to take the case. As the trial progresses, the evidence mounts against Old Drum. Having exhausted all legal maneuvering, Vest has one chance left; his closing argument. Vest knows that this speech is a matter of life and death for Old Drum. As he turns to face the jury, he instills in the community and forever memorializes the phrase that "A dog is a man's best friend."
男孩查理(鲍勃·艾德纳 Bobby Edner 饰)在幼年时便失去了母亲,和父亲博登(兰迪·特拉维斯 Randy Travis 饰)过着相依为命的生活。查理的舅舅查尔斯(朗·普尔曼 Ron Perlman 饰)一直把失去妹妹的悲痛化作愤怒转嫁到博登的身上,使得两人之间的关系常常十分的紧张。 查理养了一条小狗名叫德拉姆,一天,查尔斯的农场里有一只羊被咬死了,查尔斯怀疑是德拉姆干的。当死亡事件接二连三的发生后,博登一怒之下将德拉姆告上了法庭,请求法官判处它死刑。为了拯救这只无辜的小狗,博登找来了律师韦斯特(斯科特·巴库拉 Scott Bakula 饰)替德拉姆辩护。