Reel Dogs

Happy Howloween!

2011-10-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some canine films to get you in the spooky spirit whether you're looking for family fare or ultra creepy.

There are two new Halloween films for kids this season: The Dog Who Saved Halloween, sequel to The Dog Who Saved Christmas, and Spooky Buddies, one of Disney's Air Buddies series and following exactly the same plot as Hocus Pocus. Just add puppies.

For some retro canine horror films try Zoltan: Hound of Dracula (1978) and Devil Dog: Hound of Hell (1978). Or the original and best of all the killer dog movies: The Pack (1977).

For an update on an old theme try The Breed (2006).

Happy National Dog Day!

2011-08-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

In honor of National Dog Day (August 26th) here's a list of the top 10 highest grossing dog films ever:

10. Beethoven (1992): This canine comedy played on the huge size of the Saint Bernard star and sent a considerable backlash to the breed as uniformed families rushed to buy a puppy like Beethoven. Gross: $57,114,049

9. The Shaggy Dog (2006): The Disney remake starred a handsome Bearded Collie instead of the original breed of Old English Sheepdog. Gross: $61,123,569

8. 102 Dalmatians (2000): Sequel to what was, until recently, the top grossing doggone movie ever. Gross: $66,957,026

7. Turner & Hooch (1989): Surpassing the same year release of K-9 by about $30,000,000, this film helped put the Dogue de Bordeaux on the map. Gross: $71,079,915

6. Snow Dogs (2002): A Disney dogsled comedy running neck and neck with the next contender. Gross: $81,172,560

5. Eight Below (2006): Another disney remake, this time not of their own film, but of Nankyoku Monogatari, a 1983 Japanese movie based on a true story of dogs left alone in Antarctica. Gross: $81,612,565

4. Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008): Still leading the pack, Disney's Chihuahuas prove they can be just as big a box office draw as any other canine hero. Gross: $92,072,613

3. Cats & Dogs (2001): James Bond meets Shiloh. Gross: $93,385,515

2. 101 Dalmatians (1996): The king of dog films was finally knocked off its perch a few years ago by a new breed of canine star. Gross: $136,189,294

1. Marley & Me (2008): Because, apparently, everyone loves a bad dog. Gross: $142,992,475

Mushing in the Movies

2011-06-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Since silent films, sled dogs have been regulars in cinema. Early dog stars like Strongheart, Rin-Tin-Tin, and Lightning could be counted upon to do at least one or two northern wilderness dramas in their careers—if not a dozen of them. Adaptations of Jack London and James Oliver Curwood novels featured any number of canine stars and barking dog teams* which occasionally ran through the frozen north, but more often through studio backlots.

In recent years, wilderness filming locations have become more accessible and sled dogs more often have real snow to run through in the movies. After a surge in production of wilderness/sled films in the 1970s, the number slowed to what we are seeing today: a few good sled dog movies coming out each decade, with a handful of less known and made-for-TV movies in the mix.

Looking for a tale of cold noses and flying snow for those hot summer days? Here are the Reel Dogs top 10 sled dog flicks:

10. The Call of the Wild (1972): This dated Euro Western was a calibration of many countries and dozens of dogs. Filmed in breathtaking Lapland, Finland in place of Jack London’s Yukon, it stars a German Shepherd Dog as the famous Buck and many supporting “real” sled dogs to back him up.

9. Snow Dogs (2002): A recent Disney comedy inspired by a Gary Paulsen book and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and D.J., who also stars in Eight Bellow. Not a very convincing portrayal of Alaskan sled dogs—comedy aside—since nearly all the dogs in the film are Siberian Huskies (as opposed to Alaskan Huskies).

8. Stone Fox (1987): This made-for-TV movie based on the children’s novel by John Reynolds Gardiner is about a boy desperate to win a sled dog race and save his grandfather’s ranch with the prize money. The canine star, who looks nothing like the dog described in the book, was trained by Bob Weatherwax, of Lassie fame.

7. Toby McTeague (1986): Only recently readily available on DVD, a film about a teenage boy who sets out to win a dog sled race with his family’s Alaskan Huskies and learns life lessons along the way.

6. Eight Bellow (2006): A remake of the tremendously popular Japanese film, Antarctic, Eight Bellow puts a Walt Disney spin on what was an extraordinary and harrowing true story of a dog team left on the South Pole.

5. Kayla (a.k.a. Kayla: A Cry in the Wilderness, 1999): Twelve-year-old Sam, devastated by the disappearance of his explorer father, finds a wild Alaskan Malamute who looks just like his father’s old lead dog, Kayla. Sam struggles to tame the dog and pull together a ragtag sled team to win a race in this Canadian/German production. It is based on the novel Three Dog Winter by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk.

4. Spirit of the Wind (1979): Based on the true story of famed musher George Attla, Spirit of the Wind is a remarkable story that deserves to be released on DVD, but remains very difficult to find.

3. The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon (1997): Another made-for-TV film and another adaptation of Jack London’s classic wilderness novel. This version of The Call of the Wild, starring a Leonberger as Buck, may be the most faithful adaptation ever produced.

2. Antarctica (a.k.a. Nankyoku Monogatari, 1983): A team of Japanese scientists must leave behind their sled dogs in a storm on the South Pole, believing they will be able to return in a day or two for the dogs. Instead, they cannot get back and the dogs must fight to survive, alone in one of the most hostile natural places on Earth. A stunning film based on one of the most amazing true dog stories ever told.

1. Iron Will (1994): Another true story, Iron Will follows a young man from his quiet family farm to run in one of the most difficult and dangerous dog sled races in the world in 1917. Will must get from Winnipeg to Saint Paul with no one but his dogs to help him in order to save his family's farm and pay his way through college. Wonderful sledding cinematography, well told story, and gorgeous dogs.

*As anyone who has ever been around sled dogs knows, dog teams do not actually bark when they run, but real swords do not go ching when flashed in sunlight either.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 12

2011-05-31T17:41:00.001-07:00

A Great Dane looks into the camera in Temple Grandin (2010).

A Norfolk stares down a houseguest in The Holiday (2006).

A Border Collie puppy is an ill-fated birthday gift in All the Little Animals (1998).

Reel Dogs from Screen to Page

2011-04-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Popular, and even not so popular, movies have been adapted into book novelizations ever since silent films. The original Rin-Tin-Tin himself had several novelizations written from his movies, including Hero of the Big Snow (1926) and Tracked by the Police (1927).

Below are examples of these movie books, both old and new:

Beauceron Blockbusters

2011-03-19T18:44:00.001-07:00

The Beauceron, an old and rare breed originating in France and just recognized by the AKC in 2007, has starred in two major dog films in the past few years.

Never portrayed as the good guy, the handsome Beauceron, "Henry," was at least not completely on the dark side in Hotel for Dogs (2008). In possibly the largest film role the breed has ever had, he was 100% bad dog as "Bosco" in Marmaduke (2010). The latter was played by a Beauceron named Axel.

You can also catch Beaucerons in Moonraker (1979) (see freeze-frames #9 below), The Bear (1988), Le pacte des loups a.k.a. Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001), and, if you look very closely,

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).

How'd They Do That?: Snow Dogs

2011-02-27T23:51:00.000-08:00

Disney's 2002 comedy, Snow Dogs, had Cuba Gooding Jr. matching wits against a team of Siberian Huskies determined to get the better of him—and the trainers from Birds & Animals Unlimited going up against the harder task of training the canine characters for their roles. Here's a few of the tricks used in production:

The beer slurping dog seen by Gooding when he first arrives in Alaska was actually lapping up chicken broth.

When one of the sled team digs up a flask buried in snow, he was actually digging for treats planted for him.

In a dream scene showing the Huskies relaxing in beach chairs, each dog had custom cut foam for support to lean back on the chair without slipping, as well as a custom made bathing suit.

For the dramatic cliff scene at the end of the race, the sled dogs were hooked up with double harnesses and additional ropes and pulleys handled by their trainers. The cliff, which was manmade and shot from several angles with special effects to make it look treacherous, was traversed by the dogs with the aid of these ropes either lifting or pulling back at the right moment to get the desired effect.

Canine star D.J., who played Demon in Snow Dogs went on to star as Max in Eight Below (2006).

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 11

2010-10-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

A Rottweiler is the first to realize new neighbors are

really giant bugs in Meet the Applegates (1990).

A Jack/Parson Russell Terrier listens to plots against

her human in Kangaroo Jack (2003).

This German Shepherd Dog plays a tracking

military K-9 in District 9 (2009).

The Ugly Dogling

2010-08-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

As much as we love cute puppies, people also love ugly dogs. Just look at the annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. Movies seem to love them even more.

For the past decade it has been a trend to throw a Chinese Crested in nearly every family dog movie made, from Cats & Dogs to Good Boy! to Hotel for Dogs ("Romeo," from the latter, pictured). Last year, Geoff Talbot started an international search for a three-legged dog to play Scrap in Lucky & Rich, which is in the works.

Motley dogs are not a new phenomenon in film though. Bull Terrier, "Bullseye," pictured, costars in 1968's Oliver! as Oliver Reed's extremely mangy sidekick. Makeup effects were used to give the dog scars and add to the overall appearance.

Another tattered Bull Terrier can be seen in Frankenweenie from 1984 (currently being remade as an animated film). English Bulldogs are another breed often chosen for a film role because of their look. Breeds like Chinese Cresteds, Bull Terriers, Bull Dogs, Neapolitan Mastiffs (as seen in the Harry Potter series), Pugs, and Dachshunds are instant character actors. These dogs have screen presence and personality just by walking across a set.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 10

2010-07-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

This Border Collie does what they do best in the

new Hallmark movie You Lucky Dog (2010)

A Golden Retriever takes on a broom in

For the Love of a Dog (2008).

Nap time on the trail for this Alaskan

Malamute in To Build a Fire (1969).

Wonder Dogs and Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! I'm afraid there aren't a whole lot of patriotic dog movies out there, but you might want to check out Three Wishes (1995) or The Pooch and the Pauper (2000). Born on the Fourth of July (1989) also has a handful of dogs in it including a Catahoula Leopard Dog, but probably not worth rushing out to get just for the few seconds of dog footage.

The trailer for the book Wonder Dogs: 101 German Shepherd Dog Films went live today and you can see it below! Have a happy and safe 4th!

Lop-Eared Yeller Dog

2010-06-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

One of the most famous dog movies ever also featured one of the most famous rescue dogs ever. Spike, a huge Labrador Retriever/Mastiff mix, was adopted by Frank Weatherwax (trainer of Lassie) from the Van Nuys Animal Shelter in California for $3.00.

After his first film, Old Yeller (1957), Spike appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club with his costar Kevin Corcoran. He went on to star in two more features, A Dog of Flanders (1959) and The Silent Call (1961), and appear in other films and TV shows including The Westerner (1960).

His legacy lives on today as the poster dog of one of the best known dog novels of all time.

Old Yeller and A Dog of Flanders are both available on DVD. The Silent Call has never been released on either VHS or DVD.

How'd They Do That?: Man's Best Friend

2010-06-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

In the 1993 film Man's Best Friend the starring Tibetan Mastiff has some unusual stunts to perform: "Max," a vicious cyberdog on a bloodthirsty rampage, climbs a tree, swallows a cat, shreds a bicycle tire, smashes through a door, jumps onto and over cars, and takes more than a few hits from his human enemies.

These complex scenes were broken down into cuts and trained dogs and tailor-made props were used to complete many of the effects. When Max climbs a tree, the dog was actually crawling across a horizontal log and the image was later manipulated. When he finds himself facing down a man with a shovel, and later a boy with baseball bat, both props were made of rubber.

In a later scene, Max races down the street and leaps onto the roof of a moving car. To achieve the look of the vehicle in motion, a car was being moved on a flatbed truck. The dog jumped from the a platform onto the padded roof of the car.

Clint Rowe and his team, of White Fang and Turner & Hooch fame, trained the Tibetan Mastiffs for Man's Best Friend.

You Lucky Dog

2010-06-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

After the theatrical release this month of Marmaduke, there's another dog movie on its way: You Lucky Dog (already released in Canada under the title Family Gathering) is a Hallmark Channel original movie airing on Saturday, June 26, 9/8c on the Hallmark Channel.

The story follows a New York fashion designer (Natasha Henstridge) returning home to the farm after her mother dies. She adopts a Border Collie from a shelter and brings the dog, Lucky, home to her brother (Harry Hamlin) to help with his growing sheep flock. Their father (Lawrence Dane) disapproves of the dog, who used to belong to an old rival. But, like any good movie dog, Lucky turns out to be the whole family's best friend.

After many years without releasing a dog film, Hallmark seems to have discovered new inspiration with last year's A Dog Named Christmas, and now You Lucky Dog (which is also the title of a Disney TV film from 1998). Don't miss it on June 26th!

Check out the trailer below:

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 9

2010-06-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Double take: Two English Setters make a striking pair occupying an antique car in FairyTale: A True Story (1997).

Double trouble: This Beauceron duo is working

for the bad guy in Moonraker (1979).

Double time: Golden Retrievers in search of

for their pups in Air Buddies (2006).

Sensational Scent Hounds

2010-05-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

Scent hounds have appeared in hundreds of films from all over the world since motion pictures began. They track criminals (Cool Hand Luke), provide ambiance to the American south (Sweet Home Alabama), and make incredibly lovable stars (Cats & Dogs). Here are examples of nine types of hound and some of the shinning moments they have had in cinema:

American Foxhound: Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (1998)—They track, they hunt, they talk.

Basset Hound: Smokey and the Bandit (1977)—This Basset steals the show.

Beagle: Shiloh (1996)—Based on one of the best loved dog stories ever written.

Black and Tan Coonhound: The Duke (1999)—A hound becomes royalty.

Bloodhound: Johnny and Clyde (1995)—A hound is a boy's best friend, even when he doesn't know it.

Bluetick Coonhound: The Education of Little Tree (1997)—A group of hounds provides companionship to a lonely boy.

Dachshund: The Ugly Dachshund (1966)—They want everyone to understand they are not the "ugly" ones referred to by the title.

English Foxhound: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)—How can you track down a mystery without a few hounds?

Redbone Coonhound: Where the Red Fern Grows (1974)—The most classic of all hound films.

Genesis Awards on Animal Planet

2010-04-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hope you all can watch the show! It was a lot of fun to be there in person!

A message from Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of the HSUS, for those not on their mailing list:

If you missed out on attending The 24th Genesis Awards, now’s your chance to catch the show. Airing on Animal Planet this Saturday, April 24, at 12:00 noon ET/PT, and Sunday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT, the show brings together Antonio Banderas, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Melanie Griffith, Teri Hatcher, Jon Lovitz, Tippi Hedren, and many more to honor the news and entertainment media for raising awareness of animal issues.

Sit back and enjoy the awards show that entertains and informs about animal issues.

Reel Dogs at the Genesis Awards

2010-03-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

The Humane Society of the United States contacted me last year to ask if I would create a video tribute to dogs in movies to be shown at the 24th annual Genesis Awards in Beverly Hills. The video featured a variety of clips from old and rare, to very well known and modern films. From Rescued by Rover and A Dog's Life with Charlie Chaplin, to Hotel for Dogs and A Dog Named Christmas (both of which won Genesis Awards this year). To learn more about this year's awards, and see who won, go here.

I attended the awards on March 20 at The Beverly Hilton and shot some behind the scenes video and photos. The book, Wonder Dogs, was featured in the Genesis celebrity gift bags, and all 850-odd guests took home a Wonder Dogs bookmark in their bags. Lindy Gravelle's song, I Love My Dog, was featured in the video, which received oohs and eager applause from the star-studded audience.

Among the celebrity guests and speakers in attendance were Teri Hatcher, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Antonio Banderas, Ginnifer Goodwin, Tricia Helfer, Jon Lovitz, Moby, Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, and Nubs, the dog rescued from Iraq by Major Brian Dennis. I got to meet Nubs, canine hero of the book Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle, and handler, Major Dennis, who told me Nubs' story has been optioned for a feature film and a script has been written by Justin Zackham. The project is currently titled Nubs and has yet to begin production.

The Genesis Awards will be shown on Animal Planet on April 24th and 25th and the HSUS also offers it for sale on their website once production on the DVD is complete.

Below is the Reel Dogs behind the scenes Genesis video.

Some Genesis winners this year:

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 8

2010-03-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

This Alaskan Husky waits for a race to get underway in

Toby McTeague (1986).

A pair of Doberman Pinschers play for the bad guys in

The Brothers Grimm (2005).

An Australian Cattle Dog keeps his eye on the flock in

1915 (1982), a TV mini-series.

Wonder Dogs

2010-03-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

Great news for Wonder Dogs this month!

It was reviewed on the Seattle Kennel Club website. ~ “Wonder Dogs” packs a bite and a can-do spirit while serving as an impassioned homage to one breed’s incredible run of powerful – and entertaining – performances. ~ You can see the full review Here.

Dogwise has also picked up the book and it's now available on their website. They will have Wonder Dogs for sale at their booth for the Seattle Kennel Club Dog Show on March 13th and 14th. With a book signing on Sunday the 14th!

Upcoming Dog Stars

2010-03-04T20:19:00.000-08:00

There are three huge-budget feature films about dogs coming to theaters this year—all involve talking dogs and two are sequels to previously big dog films.

The first is Marmaduke, coming out in June, based on the classic newspaper comic by Brad Anderson, and following the misadventures of a Great Dane and his family. Though it was originally under consideration to have the dog be fully CGI, such as the Scooby-Doo films, Marmaduke is played by a very real fawn Great Dane in the film. His voice is provided, with CGI aid, by Owen Wilson.

Next is Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, coming out in July. This sequel to 2001's Cats & Dogs again features an Anatolian Shepherd, Chinese Crested, Bloodhound, and other returning breeds, but the main canine hero, formerly a Beagle, has been replaced by a German Shepherd Dog.

The release date has yet to be set for Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, which is still filming. Some of the original canine cast returns, including Angel and Samson, as Disney puts together yet another enormously ambitious animal film.

Tenacious Terriers

2010-02-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Another terrier won top honors at the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last week. Sadie, a Scottish Terrier, was just one in a long line of her group to take Best in Show at the most prestigious dog show in the USA. These dogs seem to thrive at everything they try, and it's no surprise that they are not only top show dogs, but top dogs in the entertainment industry as well.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of movies out there which these amazing dogs have made their own:

A Border Terrier visits Earth from outer-space in Good Boy! (2003) and has to get the Earth dogs in shape before their inspection by the Greater Dane. An Irish Terrier goes from Hollywood hotshot to hometown hero in Firehouse Dog (2007). The most recent incarnation of the Greyfrier's Bobby story, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby (2006), highlights a West Highland White Terrier playing the role of a Skye Terrier.

The 99 puppies captured by Cruella de Vil would not have made it out alive without the the help of a heroic Airedale Terrier in 101 Dalmatians (1996). And who could forget scene-stealing "Winky," the Norwich Terrier from Best in Show (2000)?

Wire Fox Terriers made their mark on film history forever when Skippy, "Asta," played alongside William Powell and Myrna Loy in the Thin Man series of the 1930s. Smooth Fox Terriers have known much less film fame than the wires, but can be seen in a few features like Disney's Charlie the Lonesome Cougar (1967), in-which a Smooth named "Chainsaw" terrorizes a mountain lion. I think the dog was typecast.

American Pit Bull Terriers, Pete the Pup and Luke, were two of Hollywood's first canine stars. Later, Bull Terriers flourished in movies from It's a Dog’s Life (1955), to The Incredible Journey (1963), to Oliver! (1968).

The most famous movie terrier ever, and one of the world's most famous movie dogs, is "Toto," played by a female Cairn Terrier named Terry. It wasn't the book that made Dorothy's "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," so well known. The Wizard of Oz (1939) remains one of the world's best known dog movies to this day, even though it was never meant to be a real dog movie.

Far and away the most prolific Hollywood Earth Dogs, are the Jack Russell and Parson Russell Terriers. Both in movies and TV, like Frasier and Wishbone, these dogs have stolen the hearts of audiences all over the world. Some noted performances can be seen in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Clean Slate (1994), Richie Rich (1994), Michael (1996), Son of the Mask (2005), Hotel for Dogs (2009), and of course, one of the best loved Russell films, My Dog Skip (2000). Though in the true story the film was based on, Skip was a Smooth Fox Terrier, he was played by the talented father and son team Moose and Enzo in the movie.

Want to see a Parson Russell Terrier pull a sled in a dog sled race? Check out Kevin of the North a.k.a. Chilly Dogs (2001).

Writing Contest about Movie Dogs

2009-12-30T17:51:00.000-08:00

Reel Dogs Press is holding an essay contest for people who love dog movies! Entrants have a chance to win DVDs, the book Wonder Dogs, get their story published on the site, and more. Hope you'll all enter! Check out their contest page for all the details.

Happy Holidays

2009-12-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

There have been a larger than usual number of new Christmas-themed dog movies out this season. The highlight of which is certainly A Dog Named Christmas, the Hallmark Hall of Fame film with aired last month. Others include less inspired films like Santa Buddies and The Dog Who Saved Christmas.

If you're looking for a dog movie for the holidays, don't stop at the new ones. Try the Benji classic Benji's Very Own Christmas Story (1978), or the French Canadian film The Dog Who Stopped the War (1984) (this one is tragic). Then there are more recent releases like The 12 Dogs of Christmas (2005) and A Dog's Tale (1999). This one is about a boy who turns into a German Shepherd for Christmas. It was just rereleased under the title A Christmas Tail.

Hope you will enjoy the Reel Dogs holiday tribute below, featuring A Dog Named Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Wonder Dogs!

2009-12-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

Wonder Dogs: 101 German Shepherd Dog Films is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com! This amazing tribute to Hollywood's, and the world's, greatest canine superstar is a unique book, giving in-depth and behind the scenes details about dogs in movies from 1921 to 2010. There is nothing else like it on the market, either in print or out. It's a must have for anyone who loves dogs or wants to learn more about dogs in film! The cover features Canczech's Solo, who starred in Ace of Hearts (2008), and featured in The Pink Panther (2006) and Watchmen (2009).

Making it Big

2009-12-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

Renowned animal trainer Karl Lewis Miller worked with twelve Saint Bernards for twenty-four weeks before filming on the 1992 Beethoven began. Of the twelve, Miller chose one that he knew had that perfect star power. Kris was a six-month-old puppy when Miller got him from a Riverside, CA, kennel. He grew up to be 185 pounds of beauty and brains whose skills included sharing ice cream cones with delicate bites, opening doors, and diving into swimming pools to save the little girl of his family. Kris worked with only two doubles, who stood in for lighting and setup, as well as some animatronic assistance.

Along with Barry, Kris, usually known only as Beethoven, is probably the most famous Saint Bernard ever. Though he only starred in the first two movies of the Beethoven series, he helped make Beethoven one of the top-grossing animal films ever.

Working on the set with this superstar was not all biscuits and kibble however. When the production team first began working with the dog, they were unhappy with his performance. Miller soon realized they were expecting a ballerina instead of a linebacker. He had to explain the physical limitations of a dog built like a truck, and the reactions from the crew improved. Because Kris, and the other Saint Bernards working on Beethoven's 2nd, had the unfortunate habit of drooling profusely in the mildest heat, the set was never over 60 degrees fahrenheit. But the dogs came first. When anyone on the set complained about the cold, director Rod Daniel advised them to put on a sweater.

Pictured: Kris, on the set of Beethoven, from author's collection. Copyright Universal Pictures, 1992.

Wolf Sighting!

2009-12-05T16:00:00.000-08:00

The dreadfully dull second of the Twilight series, New Moon features much less animal footage than the first film did. Despite being almost devoid of real animals, there is a single scene in New Moon showing a living grey wolf. The wolf is part of a dream sequence, standing over the body of an actor, with blood on its muzzle. It was provided by Roland Sonnenburg and Lauren Henry, who also worked on the first film. To shoot the wolf scene, the actor and wolf were introduced to each other in advance, the area for filming was secured, and the minimum possible number of cast and crew were on set while the wolf was present. As an additional precaution, the wolf wore a waist tie that was removed in post-production.

All this for about one second of footage in the completed film.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 7

2009-11-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

A mixed breed mourns her master in the

Canadian film Snowcake (2006).

A Rottweiler shows off a leather mask in the

French film Brotherhood of a the Wolf (2001).

And a Siberian Husky plays a wolf in the

Euro wester, The Call of the Wild (1972).

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

Whether they're appearing in a theater near you, or curled on your own couch, thanks to dogs everywhere, and through all time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Malamute Movies

2009-11-23T08:58:00.000-08:00

The Alaskan Malamute does not have a reputation for being a trick dog, but when they do get a film role, they always stand out. Here's a list of some Malamute movies fans of the breed may enjoy.

Pictured: Lobby card from Nikki, Wild Dog of the North, probably the best Malamute movie ever made, from author's collection. Copyright Walt Disney Pictures, 1961.

Antarctica a.k.a. Nankyoku monogatari (1983)

Eight Bellow (2006)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Iron Will (1994)

Kayla a.k.a. Kayla: A Cry in the Wilderness (1999)

The Lost Boys (1987)

Nikki, Wild Dog of the North a.k.a. Nomads of the North (1961)

On Deadly Ground (1994)

The Thing From Another World (1951)

White Fang 2: Myth of the While Wolf (1994)

Also, a famous Malamute mix was Jed, star of The Thing (1982), The Journey of Natty Gann (1985), and White Fang (1991).

Malamutes of TV include the ones from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993), White Fang (1993), and The Call of the Wild (2000).

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 6

2009-11-21T16:22:00.000-08:00

A smiling mixed breed in The Robin Hood Gang (1997).

This Chihuahua in Belle of the Yukon (1944)

looks more like a toy than a real dog.

A White German Shepherd Dog makes the

whole story of The Beastmaster (1982) possible.

Canine Incognito

2009-10-31T00:36:00.000-07:00

In honor of Halloween, we're turning our attention for a moment to those reel dogs who act undercover: whether dyed or powdered or clipped or costumed, many movie dogs have to dress-up for their close-up.

The reason can be anything from getting a dog to look wounded, to matching one dog to another whom he or she is doubling for, to getting a young dog to look old, to making a purebred look like a mixed breed. The Parson Russell Terrier in Son of the Mask (2005) was a white dog who had makeup patches added to make him look more interesting. The radioactive killer in Atomic Dog (1998) was a white German Shepherd Dog with black makeup to give him an unusual appearance. Another dog who was changed from purebred to mix through dye and a haircut was the Golden Retriever in Fluke (1995). The German Shepherd who doubled for the main dog in Ace of Hearts (2008) was a sable, dyed to play a black and tan.

Some of the most extraordinary makeup jobs seen on film dogs are in the cyber-dog movies like Man's Best Friend (1993), and Rottweiler (2004). The DVD for the latter includes a featurette showing some of the extensive makeup effects used for the dog in the film. Some other horror dog films to include lots of makeup are The Pack (1977), Cujo (1983), and The Breed (2006).

Happy Howloween!

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 5

2009-10-15T12:40:00.001-07:00

A Border Collie gets hold of something he shouldn't in

Dog Soldiers (2002)

Border Terrier waits for lunch in

Mitt liv som hund a.k.a. My Life as a Dog (1985)

German Shepherd in

National Lampoon's Holiday Reunion (2003)

Million Dollar Dog

2009-10-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Billed as the "First Real Million Dollar Picture" Foolish Wives (1922) featured an elegant dog to match: a Borzoi, seen here with Maude George, Erich von Stroheim, and Miss DuPont.

Other early Borzoi films include The Intrigue (1916) and Macbeth (1916). Somewhat more modern Borzoi films include: Sextette (1978), Dumb and Dumber (1994), Legends of the Fall (1994), Anna Karenina (1997), and 102 Dalmatians (2000).

A Border Collie Year

2009-09-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

I just saw A Dog Year (starring Jeff Bridges), a movie aired on HBO and based on the book by Jon Katz. The book/film is all about the relationship between a messed-up dog and a messed-up man and it's probably the best Border Collie film out there. In honor or Devon, played by Ryder in the film, and all the other OCD Border Collies out there, here's a list of some of the films they've made their own with big or small roles.

Pictured: Original poster from Babe, one of the best known BC films, from author's collection. Copyright Universal Pictures, 1995.

The 101 Problems of Hercules (1966) TV

An American Werewolf in Paris (1997)

An Angel for May (2002) TV

The Animal (2001)

Animal Farm (1999) TV

Air Bud: World Pup (2000) (brief)

Babe (1995)

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)

Bailey's Billion$ (2005)

Bingo (1991)

Blind Man's Bluff (1992) TV

Bob, Son of Battle a.k.a. Thunder in the Valley (1947)

Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

Daisy Kenyon (1947)

Dog Trouble! aka The Dog Days of Arthur Cane (1984) TV

Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

Finding Friends a.k.a. Venner for livet (2005)

First Kid (1996)

Flight of the Navigator (1986)

For Richer or Poorer (1997)

Garfield (2004) (brief)

Galaxy Quest (1999)

Good Boy! (2003)

Hambone and Hillie (1984)

Heck's Way Home (1995)

The Horse Whisperer (1998)

The Hound of the Baskervilles (2000) TV

The Jack Bull (1999) TV

Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)

The Last of the High Kings a.k.a. Summer Fling (1996)

The MatchMaker (1997)

Mist: The Tale of a Sheepdog Puppy (2006) TV

My Friend Flicka (1943)

Never a Dull Moment (1950)

Owd Bob (1924)

Owd Bob a.k.a. To the Victor (1938)

Owd Bob (1997)

Phantom Gold (1938)

Pollock (2000)

P.S. I Love You (2007)

The Princess Stallion (1997) TV

The Proud Rebel (1958)

Razorback (1983)

Reservation Road (2007)

Roseanna's Grave a.k.a. For Roseanna (1997)

Sarah Plain and Tall (1990) TV

Sarah Plain and Tall, Winter's End (1999) TV

Second Sight (1999) TV

Snow Dogs (2002)

The Soul Collector (1999) TV

The Sundowners (1960)

Up the Creek (1984)

Village of the Damned (1960) (brief)

Waking Ned Divine (1998)

Wild is the Wind a.k.a. Obsession (1957)

Wind Dancer (1993)

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 4

2009-07-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

A Labrador Retriever in The Medicine Hat Stallion (1977)

Box full of Belgian Malinois puppies from

Trois couleurs: Rouge (1994)

Basset Hound chilling in Smoky and the Bandit (1977)

Bad Dog! The Killer Canines of Horror

2009-06-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

Dogs have been appearing in horror movies for a long time, though their big break came in the 1970s with films like Trapped (1973), Dogs (1976) and The Pack (1977), based on David Fisher's novel. Warner Brothers originally retitled it The Long, Dark Night, but reverted back to the original right before the release. The Pack stars a variety of dogs with two German Shepherds and a mixed breed featuring prominently. The story takes place on a secluded island, favorite summer vacation spot for nearby city dwellers, who often adopt a dog for their vacation and then abandon it on the island to survive by itself. But now the dogs have had enough: They are starving and desperate when Jerry (Joe Don Baker) and his family arrive on the island for a trip that turns into a nightmare.

The superb performances by the canine stars of The Pack can be attributed to Karl Lewis Miller, one of Hollywood's top trainers for many years. Miller also trained what is probably the most famous of all killer screen dogs, Daddy, who played "Cujo."

The dog horror film fad of the 70s continued through the 80s with films like Dogs of Hell (1982) (this is one of the truly terrible films out there), Cujo (1983) and Play Dead (1986) (another really bad one). Even through the 90s and today we still see some good, and some not so good, evil dog movies on TV and occasionally in a theater; Man's Best Friend (1993), Atomic Dog (1998), Rottweiler (2004), The Breed (2006) and Wilderness (2006) among them. But none has ever compared to The Pack, especially when it comes to the performances of the dogs.

Unfortunately, The Pack, along with many other old dog horror films, is still not available on DVD.

Pictured: Original still photo from The Pack, from author's collection. Copyright Warner Bros. Pictures, 1977.

Some additional canine horror films below.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 3

2009-05-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hugo Weaving's Labrador Retriever companion in

Proof (1991)

Alaskan Malamute, "Kayla," shows his wild nature in

Kayla (1999), based on Elizabeth Van Steenwyk's novel,

Three Dog Winter.

A German Shepherd Dog says goodbye in

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

After Thomas . . . and still no DVD

2009-05-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

After Thomas is a made-for-TV film that first aired in the UK on Boxing Day, 2006. I was lucky enough to see After Thomas as I was in England at the time. Had I known it would be so difficult to see it again, I would have taken more notes.

Thomas is a Golden Retriever, named for Thomas the Tank Engine by Kyle (Andrew Byrne), a little boy with autism. For years, Kyle's family fights a desperate battle with Kyle's intense panic attacks and unpredictable behavior in public as well as the home, until a Golden puppy changes all their lives.

What makes After Thomas so poignant and memorable is the way the film was made; although it is based on a true story, it could easily have become cute and childish, too Disney in other words. But it's not. Instead it's raw, heartfelt, and very sad. Yet the saddest thing about After Thomas is that, years later, it is still not available on DVD for NTSC players. And if you want a PAL version, it's going to cost you.

If anyone out there knows where to get an NTSC DVD of After Thomas, I'd love to hear from you.

Dozens of Dobermans

2009-05-18T15:25:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of requests by people through my YouTube page (www.youtube.com/user/ReelDogs) who are looking for Doberman Pinscher films. So here's my list. Enjoy!

The 6th Day (2000)
Addams Family Values (1993)
*The Amazing Dobermans (1976)
America's Sweethearts (2001)
Another You (1991)
Bait (2000)
Bedazzled (2000)

Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008)
The Boys from Brazil (1978)
Boyz N the Hood (1991)
The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
Cats and Dogs (2001)
Cerberus (2005) TV
Chips the War Dog (1993) TV
Commando (1985)
The Conversation (1974)
Cousin Bette (1998)
Daddy's Boy (2004)
*The Daring Dobermans (1973)
The Defiant Ones (1958)
The Demolitionist (1995)
*The Doberman Gang (1972)
Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990)
Every Day’s a Holiday (1937)
*Eyes of an Angel (1989) (Best Doberman film there is!)
First Blood a.k.a. Rambo: First Blood (1982)
Garfield (2004)
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
Halloween (1978)
House Party (1990)
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
Instinct (1999)
*It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog (1946)
Jack the Bear (1993)
K-911 (1999)
The Kennel Murder Case (1933)
Lawn Dogs (1997)
The Little Rascals (1994)
Lovers Lane (1999)
Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
Mean Dog Blues (1978)
Mid Road Gang a.k.a. Ma mha 4 khaa khrap (2007)
Nacho Chihuahua (2001)
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
The Next Karate Kid (1994)
Nobody's Fool (1994)
The Pickup Artist (1987)
Playback a.k.a. Los Placeres ocultos (1989)
Play Dead (1986)
The Rainmaker (1997)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985)
Resident Evil (2002)
Satisfaction (1988)
Soldier (1998)
Storybook (1995)
Street Hunter (1990)
The Tao of Steve (2000)
They Only Kill Their Masters (1972)
To Kill a Clown (1972)

Trapped a.k.a. Doberman Patrol (1973) TV
True Lies (1994)
Wildcats (1986)
Witch Hunt (1994) TV
Yankee Zulu (1993)
*Zoltan: Hound of Dracula a.k.a. Dracula's Dog (1977)

* Indicates my personal recommendations for those looking for Doberman films.

Reel Artists of the 1940s

2009-05-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

These close-ups of canine portraits done for different film posters of the 1940s demonstrate a few of the extraordinary animal paintings created for movie advertisements of the time. They show a dog sled team in Girl from God's Country (1940), a German Shepherd Dog in Danny Boy (1946), a Border Collie in Bob, Son of Battle (1947), and a mixed breed fighting with a mountain lion in Shaggy (1949).

Girls and Their Dogs

2009-03-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

While the "boy and his dog" story line is well picked over from Old Yeller (1957) to Air Bud (1997), there are relatively few "girl and her dog" films out there. Notably Because of Winn-Dixie (2005), adapted from Kate DiCamillo's bestselling juvenile novel, and Little Heroes (1992), about a girl learning love and loss through her canine friend.

One of the really outstanding girl and dog films is not about a girl and her dog at all, but a girl who rescues a wolf on her cross-country journey to find her father during the Great Depression. The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) stared Jed, a Malamute/wolf mix trained by Clint Rowe. Jed also appeared in The Thing (1982) and was most famous for his role in the 1991 adaptation of White Fang. It was the first time in a live-action film that White Fang had been portrayed by any breed other than a German Shepherd Dog.

Some other films featuring a girl and dog are Courage of Lassie (1946), More Than Puppy Love (2000), Sunny's Ears (1997, from TV series), Eyes of an Angel (1991), Annie (1982), Annie (1999), Big Chuck, Little Chuck (2004), The Bashful Elephant (1962), and Poco: Little Dog Lost (1977).

Pictured: Theatrical release poster of The Journey of Natty Gann, from author's collection, showing Jed, Meredith Salender and John Cusack. Copyright The Walt Disney Company, 1985.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 2

2009-03-30T17:42:00.000-07:00

A Bloodhound's greeting in Faibian's Rainbow (1968)

Tracking down Rumpelstiltskin (1996), this Great Dane creates an imposing silhouette.

In El Verano del potro a.k.a. Summer of the Colt (1991) this Border Collie puppy spends all his scenes being as cute as possible.

The Company of Tervurens

2009-03-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and based on a short story by Angela Carter, The Company of Wolves (1984) is a surreal and symbolic film featuring one-of-a-kind canine footage.

The film opens with a handsome German Shepherd Dog racing through a wood and along a road to a mansion. He enters and climbs the stairs to the closed bedroom door of a teenage girl. Here reality fades and dreams begin: A pack of about fifteen Belgian Tervurens dominate the canine scene; chasing the teen through a fairy tale forest, being dressed up as courtly lords and ladies while sitting at long dinning tables, crashing through a window and a paper canvas.

There are few films at all featuring Tervurens. The Company of Wolves is the clear standout among them for any fans of the breed. Besides the GSD and Tervs, there are two other dogs given brief screen appearances and a wolf. Although the filmmakers were able to get a few decent shots of the wolf, it is clear from watching that the animal should not have been on the set at all; panting, cowering, and rolling its eyes in every shot.

The other dogs are an Alaskan Malamute and GSD mix, both of whom double for the wolf in the film.

Pictured: A Belgian Tervuren leaps through a painting in a slow motion scene near the end of The Company of Wolves.

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames

2009-03-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

A Borzoi gets a kiss in Legends of the Fall (1994)

Alaskan Malamute near the beginning of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

A Neapolitan Mastiff finds the leftovers of a meal fit for a king in Dragonheart (1996)

The Biggest Little Dog

2009-03-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Beverly Hills Chihuahua, the "biggest" dog film of 2008, has hit shelves on DVD. Not only staring Chihuahuas but a German Shepherd Dog, Doberman Pincher, Pug, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, mixed breeds, and dozens more, including a brief shot of a Coyote, Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a movie-dog-lover's dream; and a movie dog trainer's toughest challenge.

Although a considerable amount of the canine footage is CGI, including "Delgado," leaping onto a moving train and fighting cougars, the work from the real dogs is nothing short of astounding. More than 200 dogs and 60 trainers were involved in the making of the film. And BHC trainers had to do more than just prep those 200 dogs: While filming on location in Mexico, torrential rain caused flooding and trainers carried the dogs to safety through the knee-high floodwater. All the dogs (and people) were okay.

You can buy Beverly Hills Chihuahua here:

Seeing Spots . . . On the Big Screen

2009-02-21T22:08:00.000-08:00

Probably the most famous Dalmatian film is Walt Disney's 1996 adaptation of Dodie Smith's novel, The One Hundred and One Dalmatians, retitled 101 Dalmatians. The film spawned such a Dalmatian craze that, after it came out, animal shelters across America were flooded with young adult Dals who had outgrown their cute puppy stage and turned out not to be born with the same training Pongo had.

There are many other films featuring Dals (though some only in very small roles) and here's a list for all you fans of the "carriage dog."

101 Dalmatians (1996)

102 Dalmatians (2000)

Airplane! (1980)

Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)

Dog Years (1997)

Don't Bother to Knock (1952)

Freddy Got Fingered (2001)

Frequency (2000) (brief)

Garfield (2004) (brief)

The Hindenburg (1975)

Hot Shots! (1991)

In Dreams (1999)

Little Cobras: Operation Dalmatian a.k.a. Dalmatian Fever (1997)

Operation Dalmatian: The Big Adventure (1997)
Operation Dalmatian: Holiday (2007)

Operation Dalmatian: Paws and Claws Rescuers (2001) TV

Pleasentville (1998)

The Rainbow Thief (1990)

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Serendipity (2001)

State and Main (2000)

Sweet Charity (1969) (brief)

Tiger (1998) (brief)

The Truman Show (1998)

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

What Dreams May Come (1998)

Pictured: Poster art from author's collection of Robin Williams with Dalmatian, "Katie," in What Dreams May Come. Copyright Polygram Filmed Entertainment, 1998.

Fox and Hounds

2009-02-20T22:37:00.000-08:00

In the 1950 British film, Gone to Earth, a woman tries to save her fox from huntsmen, running desperately from a pack of English Foxhounds with her pet in her arms. But both fox and hounds almost didn't make it into the movie at all.

When the producers set about the daunting task of trying to find not only a tame, but trained, fox for the role of "Foxy," they almost gave up. Turning instead to a Corgi dog to play the part. Yes, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, with a fox tail attached to its own stub tail. It is extremely fortunate for the integrity of the film that they did at last find the foxes needed as Foxy and the Corgi idea was abandoned.

Then came the problem of the hounds: When the British Field Sports Society learned about the production of Gone To Earth, they made a statement requesting that no master of hounds should allow his pack to appear in it on the grounds that the film was propaganda promoting anti-hunting attitudes. Directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger were furious over the BFSS roadblocks in completing their "work of art," and their troubles were not over.

The American executive producer of Gone to Earth, David Selznick, was so unhappy with the way the film turned out, he sued Powell and Pressburger in an effort to get it changed. Although he lost the case for the British release, he was able to change the film for its US release. And change he did, re-shooting large portions in Hollywood instead of England and cutting out others. Unfortunately Selznick could not be bothered to go through the trouble Powell and Pressburger had to find trained foxes. In the scenes that were redone of the flight across the countryside with the fox in her arms, actress Jennifer Jones carries a stuffed dog instead.

But Powell and Pressburger had the last laugh: In the end they got the fox, got the hounds, and Gone to Earth was a success in the UK.

Pictured: English Foxhounds catch the scent of the fox in a scene from Gone to Earth.

Playing the “Fluke”

2009-02-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Director Carlo Carlei wanted to adapt Fluke, a novel by James Herbert, into a feature film as soon as he read it. He optioned the rights for $5,000 but it was twelve years before Carlei's dream became a reality. The story of a dog who has been reincarnated and is searching for the family he knew as a man, Fluke was released in 1995.

The first dog to audition for the role was Comet, a Golden Retriever who appeared as the family dog in the TV show Full House. Although Carlei was blown away by Comet's skills, the dog in the novel was a black mixed breed and the search continued. It was only after auditioning over a hundred dogs that Carlei went back to Comet and asked if he could be made to look like a mutt.

Comet's coat was dyed dark and trimmed short. To make sure they had done enough, the producers asked a dog show judge to take a look at Comet. The judge pronounced the dog to be a Golden cross and Comet got the role.

Although animatronic puppets were made to double for him in especially dangerous or difficult scenes, Comet proved to be such an outstanding performer that he hardly ever needed one. Comet can be seen in his normal coat in the 1997 made-for-TV film, My Magic Dog a.k.a. My Ghost Dog.

Discussing Comet's acting abilities, his trainer, Cristie Miele, said, "If ever there was a dog who was a person at one time, it's him."

Pictured: Photo from author's collection; "Fluke" makes a phone call. Copyright MGM, 1995.

You can buy Fluke, easily one of the best dog films ever made, and My Magic Dog through the links below.

The Bully as a Good Guy: American Bulldogs in Film

2009-02-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

While American Pit Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers have gotten a bad rap in the past few decades (with Hollywood's help), filmmakers have taken a different angle with their cousins, the American Bulldog. Beginning noticeably with Walt Disney's Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey in 1993, ABs have been increasingly playing the role of family, and more notably children's, companions in such films as The Little Rascals (1994), The Pooch and the Pauper (1999), Cheaper by the Dozen (2004) and its sequel. Though still with some not-so-friendly incarnations such as Wonder Boys (2000), AMs have largely avoided the kind of typecasting that Pits have received.

In Homeward Bound, Chance (played by a dog named Rattler) was not only not the tough guy, but a goofball personality similar to what most people associate with a Golden Retriever. Ironically enough, his composed, wise companion was the Golden. Hollywood can brake the rules just as easily as they can make them.

Pictured: Poster artwork from author's collection; Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, featuring Golden Retriever "Shadow", Himalayan Cat "Sassy", and American Bulldog "Chance." Copyright The Walt Disney Company, 1993.

Readers may be interested in some of these films, all featuring American Bulldogs:

Bark (2002)

Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995)

Bingo (1991)

Bubble Boy (2001)

Cheaper by the Dozen (2004)

Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005)

The Little Rascals (1994)

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996)

The Pooch and the Pauper (1999) (Not available on DVD)

Return to Me (2000)

Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)

Unaccompanied Minors (2006)

Wonder Boys (2000)

Blair: The Beginning of Canine Film Stars

2009-02-19T18:58:00.000-08:00

It seems fitting for the first post of this blog, which is dedicated to dogs in film, to be about the first canine movie star; Blair. A male Collie, Blair was the star of Cecil Hepworth's six and a half minute film, Rescued by Rover (1905).

In the film, "Rover," must rescue a baby who has been stolen from her maid by a gypsy. He trails them to an attic hideout, then races home to bring the infant's father (Hepworth) back to save her. Most of the footage is devoted to the dog's brave journey, a brand new concept in film at the time. The public loved it and Rescued by Rover became so popular it had to be remade twice because the original negative degraded to badly.

Hepworth cast his own wife, who also wrote Rescued by Rover, and baby daughter for the film, as well as the family dog, Blair.

Pictured: Blair with the Hepworths in a scene at the end of Rescued by Rover.