• Rating:
• Genre: Comedy
• Movie Type: Family-Oriented Comedy, Slapstick
• Themes: Trading Bodies, Unlikely Heroes, Political Conspiracies
• Director: Charles Barton
• Main Cast: Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen, Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello, Tim Considine
• Release Year: 1959
• Country: US
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• MPAA Rating: G

Plot

This is a routine Disney comedy-fantasy about a boy who turns into a large sheep dog at the most inopportune moments. That is assuming there would be opportune moments. Young Wilby Daniels (Tommy Kirk) finds a magic ring that used to belong to the Borgia family. When he pronounces an inscription on the ring, he is suddenly able to transform himself into a shaggy dog -- though he has no control over when this is going to happen. To his dismay, the girl he likes gets involved without knowing who the dog really is. At the same time, the only way Wilby can break the spell is to perform some virtuous deed. Fortunately for him, a few Soviet spies are just hanging around, waiting to be uncovered by a canine. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Review

Immensely popular at the time of its release, The Shaggy Dog is quintessential Disney live action fare of the period. It also is extremely dated, with its newspaper-reading father giving not-to-be-questioned orders to his wife and children and carelessly firing a shotgun at a dog in their suburban neighborhood. The dialogue is also dated, but actually less so than in many family- or teen-themed films of the era. The plot is a bunch of nonsense, of course, serving as nothing more than a frame on which to hang the film's high concept idea. Because of this (and Charles Barton's by-the-book direction), Dog tends to drag a little, despite the presence of any number of slapstick gags and action sequences. Fortunately, the basic premise and the appealing cast do make it a fun and amusing viewing experience. Fred MacMurray is in his light Disney mode, not filling out the part beyond what is required but turning in a casually amusing performance, and while Jean Hagen's unique talents are not exploited, she still provides a few interesting moments. Tommy Kirk is perfectly engaging, and Annette Funicello winning in her feature debut. While special effects are somewhat primitive, this doesn't get too much in the way of enjoying the film. Dog was followed, some years later, by a couple of sequels and a remake. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Fred MacMurray - Wilson Daniels
• Jean Hagen - Frieda Daniels
• Tommy Kirk - Wilby Daniels
• Annette Funicello - Allison D'Allessio
• Tim Considine - Buzz Miller

Kevin Corcoran - "Moochie" Daniels; Cecil Kellaway - Prof. Plumcutt; Alexander Scourby - Dr. Mikhail Andrassy; Roberta Shore - Franceska Andrassy; James Westerfield - Officer Hanson; Jacques Aubuchon - Stefano; Strother Martin - Thurm; Forrest Lewis - Officer Kelly; Ned Wever - E.P. Hackett; Gordon Jones - Capt. Scanlon; Jack Albertson - Reporter; Shaggy - Himself; Mack Williams - Betz; Paul H. Frees - Psychiatrist; John Hart - Police Broadcaster

Credit

Charles Barton - Director; Gertrude Casey - Costume Designer; Carroll Clark - Art Director; Edward Colman - Cinematographer; Walt Disney - Producer; Lillie Hayward - Screenwriter; Chuck Keehne - Costume Designer; Emile Kuri - Set Designer; Eustace Lycett - Special Effects; Fred MacLean - Set Designer; Bill Walsh - Producer; Bill Walsh - Screenwriter; Pat McNalley - Makeup; Paul J. Smith - Composer (Music Score); James D. Ballas - Editor; Felix Salten - Short Story Author; Robert O. Cook - Sound/Sound Designer; Harry Lindgren - Sound/Sound Designer; Arthur J. Vitarelli - First Assistant Director

Similar Movies

The Incredible Mr. Limpet; Oh, Heavenly Dog!; The Absent-Minded Professor; Freaky Friday; The Cat from Outer Space; Good Boy!

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