Sam Garland

"I ran into a youngster who said they was moving on to the Collins' place. That's alright, as long as they don't mess around with our flock. Right boys? (Josh: They won't, sir. Me and Jim will take care of that.) That's what I like to hear. (Mildred: Sam, you mustn't encourage the boys to do anything malicious.) Now, Mildred, who said anything about malicious? I just want my boys to keep an eye on things. We need that pasture. You know what I mean, right, Jim? (Jim: Yes, sir.) Josh, you know what I'm talking about? (Josh: Yes sir.)"

- Sam Garland.

Sam Garland is the main antagonist of the 1994 live-action film Lassie. He is Matthew Turner's neighborhood and Josh and Jim Garland's father who wants to prevent him and his family from becoming successful sheep farmers.

He was portrayed by Frederic Forrest.

Role
While Sam is riding on his horse, he spots Lassie and aims his rifle at her until Matt stops him. Matt reveals that he lives with Len Collins and he leaves. At dinner, he plans to steal the sheep to prevent Matt's family from becoming successful and the brothers agree. However, Mildred opposes to this and tells him not to teach them to do anything bad, but Sam assures her that they want to keep an eye on the sheep. Josh and Jim also attend the same school as Matt and they constantly bully him.

Sam makes a deal with the Turner family over the sheep and they build a sheep farm. While they're contructing the farm, the two sons inform him about the farm and realizes that his plan went wrong. He comes over and offers the sheep, but Len refuses and they leave. The next morning, while the Turner family leave to pick up supplies, the brothers ride on their buggies and try to drive the sheep away, but not before Lassie notices them. Lassie jumps out of the truck and drives them off. Meanwhile, Sam realizes that the fence separating him and the Turner family has finished construction, much to his annoyance.

The following night, Sam cuts the fence and they head in to steal the sheep. However, Lassie hears them and goes out to drive them off, but the brothers capture her and Sam drives off with her, while they proceed to drive the sheep. Sam locks Lassie in a shed, but she eventually manages to escape and informs Matt about the lost sheep. They head out to find the sheep and try to heard them out, but are caught by the brothers. Josh tries to shoot Lassie, but Matt stops him and throws his rifle into the river. Matt and Jim engage in a fight, while Josh tries to find his rifle. However, he ends up being dragged in the current and Matt heads out to rescue him. Matt and Josh end up on a rock, but Matt is dragged away and Lassie comes to his aid. The current carries Matt to a tree branch, but Lassie goes over the waterfall. After realizing that Lassie had saved his son from drowning, Sam apologizes to the Turner family for his actions and for Lassie's loss. However, Lassie survived the waterfall and eventually reunites with Matt.