Beethoven is a 1992 comedy
film directed by Brian Levant and written by John Hughes. The centers on a St. Bernard dog named after the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. It is thought that
the film helped to redeem the St. Bernard's image which had been defamed by the Stephen
King thriller, Cujo. The film was rated PG by the MPAA, but is mistaken rated G by the MPAA. [1] However, the back cover of the Family Favorite Treasures DVD (which contains
this film along with Babe and The Cat
in the Hat) correctly states that the film is rated PG by the MPAA.
Plot
Beethoven starts off the movie as a puppy in a pet shop. Every child that walks by seems to pick out another puppy, and the
owner of the store is having a terrible time selling dogs. At night, two dognappers break into the shop and steal several dogs
including Beethoven. Another small dog, Mitch, however, helps Beethoven escape his cage during the long truck ride. The other
dogs notice and become excited. When one of the two thieves come to check on the dogs, Beethoven and Mitch jump out of the back
of the truck.
Mitch is pursued by one of the thieves while Beethoven hides overnight in a trash can. In the morning, Beethoven sneaks into
the Newton house and subsequently finds children in the Newton household. Emily (Karr), the youngest daughter, believes that her
father has finally bought her a puppy. George, the father, is in a sticky situation, the kids believe he brought the dog home,
but he does not want the added responsibility and aggravation of owning a dog. Soon he is talked into keeping the dog. While they
are naming the dog, Emily plays a famous part of Ludwig van Beethoven's
Fifth Symphony, and the dog immediately begins to bark. Thus, the family
decides to name him Beethoven. As the family grows attached to him, George is left to single-handedly house train the pup, who
regularly chooses to relieve himself in George's suitcase and on the living room rug. As the pup grows into middle size, the
antics only increase. The adolescent pup scratches apart the door, sheds endlessly upon the furniture, and dines off of the
kitchen counter. As Beethoven reaches 189 lb. status, he begins to chew the house apart.
As Beethoven grows up, he helps the children. Ted challenges the bullies to a fistfight, and Beethoven growls at them from behind
him. Beethoven runs away when Ted sees that the bullies have fled, making Ted believe that he caused the bullies to run.
He also helps Ryce (Tom) to talk to her crush, Mark. Beethoven forcibly drags Ryce nearer to him after Ryce confesses her
obsession. Thus, Ryce is finally able to talk, even if non-romantically, with Mark and overcomes her insecurity of not being
perfect.
The family takes Beethoven in for a routine medical examination. They take him to Herman Varnick, who is posing as a
veterinarian. Varnick has been asked to acquire a very large dog for deadly experiments. As
part of his scheme to get the Newton family to give up the dog, he visits the Newton home under the guise of delivering Beethoven
a vaccine. He manages to create the impression that Beethoven attacked him. Varnick says Beethoven must be euthanized or he may have to bring legal action. Emily saw Varnick hit Beethoven. George has persuaded
Alice to return to work with him so a babysitter is hired. While the babysitter entertains Ted and Ryce a shrill sing-along,
Emily goes out back to play ball, but the ball lands into a pool. When Emily tries to reach it, she falls in. She flails and
cries for help as she can't swim, but the babysitter is playing loud enough to block her cries for help, so her siblings and the
babysitter can't hear her. Beethoven, however, hears Emily screaming from the Newton yard and saves her.
Later, Alice walks to the babysitters house and after hearing of Emily's fall in the pool fires the baby sitter.; George
protests, but the final judgment falls on George Newton, who decides to side with the veterinarian in order to keep his children
save.
Later that night Alice and George talk about Beethoven, they recalled Emily telling them Varnick hit the dog. George decides
to go see Varnick and do a little investigating. The entire family insists on going with him. They drive in the station wagon to
the vet, and find Varnick leaving. They then follow him to the facility where he does his deadly experiments on dogs. George
leaves the car climbs on the roof of the building and steps on the skylight and crashes through the glass landing on top of one
of the dog thieves, while Ted drives the family car through the wall of the facility, knocking over some toxic chemicals and
impaling Varnick with many toxic syringes. Varnick is drugged and later arrested.
The family later gets to appear on local news. The movie ends with the family going to bed and saying good night to the dozens
of dogs they adopted from Varnick's facility.
Cast
- George Newton, played by Charles Grodin
- Alice Newton, played by Bonnie Hunt
- Ryce Newton, played by Nicholle Tom
- Ted Newton, played by Christopher Castile
- Emily Newton, played by Sarah Rose Karr
- Herman Varnick, played by Dean Jones
- Harvey, played by Oliver Platt
- Vernon, played by Stanley Tucci
- Brad, played by David Duchovny
- Brie, played by Patricia Heaton
- Beethoven (the dog), played by Chris
Beethoven's (Mis)Deeds
- Urinated on pet store patron
- Urinated in George's Briefcase
- Messed on Living Room Rug
- Drank out of the fishbowl
- Scratched up door
- Shedded on furniture
- Ate Thanksgiving turkey from
table
- Chewed and drooled in George's shoe
- Jumped upon George with muddy paws
- Knocked over living room plant
- Ran through house trailing mud, and laid on bed. When George comes in to his room, Beethoven shakes all his mud and water all
over George.
Quotes
DAD: Ahh...! How dare you? How dare you?! Are you crazy...?
DAD: Why, all we do, want, left, know, need and never have are on the way--never! Do we understand it...?
TED: O.K., O.K., fine. How do I get in here, right?
TED: How do you hate the Beethoven? You'd always have one more 'cause he hates a Beethoven. (crying)
Clips
Sequels and spinoffs
The film was followed by four sequels: Beethoven's
2nd (puppies) in 1993 and three direct-to-video films, Beethoven's 3rd (Road Trip) (2000), Beethoven's 4th (Obedience School) (2001) and
Beethoven's 5th (Hidden Treasure) (2003). It also had a animated TV series in 1993. Ironically,
the voice of George Newton in the series was Dean Jones who played the villain in
this film.
External links
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