Reel Artists of the 1970s

Until more recent years, many reel dogs were displayed on their film posters by talented painters rather than photographers and Photoshop artists. Here are some highlights of canine movie poster art from the 1970s. (Links to all these films on DVD below.)

Before Cujo, before Beethoven, there was George! (1972). Artwork from the one-sheet poster.

The Daring Dobermans (1973) pioneered a new and still seldom used concept: the movie canine anti-hero. It spawned a trilogy following the exploits of Doberman Pinscher crime-specialists and is finally available on DVD after many years of being very hard to find.

Artistic interpretation of canine stars in Euro-Westerns were typically melodramatic, as demonstrated on the Italian three-sheet for Zanna bianca alla riscossa a.k.a. White Fang to the Rescue (1974).

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) was Paramount's spoof take on Rin-Tin-Tin's studio saving box office draw for Warner Bros. in the 1920s. Artwork from the half-sheet poster.

The family's Labrador Retriever stands ahead of his people on the Mountain Family Robinson (1979) poster.

C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979) isn't about a real dog at all, but a robotic security system. On this insert poser, the robo-dog can be seen smashing through a brick wall with a lit stick of dynamite in its mouth.

 

Reel Dogs Freeze-Frames 8

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.

Dozens of Dobermans

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.