A kind of shaggy dog story not uncommon in British films, with tales of rural life built around one common event--the canine competition. Will Fyffe stars as an old Scottish farmer who is constantly at odds with his neighbors, and whose mean dog Black Wull consistently takes first prize at the local sheepdog trials, until both of these traditions are overturned with the arrival of newcomer John Loder and his dog Owd Bob. “Robert Stevenson's last film in a long association with Gainsborough (Studios), Owd Bob was separated from his Hollywood career by a trio of extremely good films for Ealing. A fairly typical sheepdog saga (later remade in Hollywood, in color, as Bob, Son of Battle), Owd Bob benefits from a compact running time (perhaps a little too compact for characters to really get themselves established) and pleasant outdoor location work. Will Fyffe's aggressive Scottish brogue is all but indecipherable, but luckily in his role as peacemaker between warring factions, John Loder manages to translate, explain or respond to the Fyffe dialogue so it isn't that difficult to follow. (Released in U.S. as To the Victor.)” William K. Everson