DIGBY,THE BIGGEST DOG IN THE WORLD

UK, 1973, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jim Dale, Spike Milligan, Angela Douglas, John Bluthal, Norman Rossington, Milo O’ Shea, Victor Spinetti.
Directed by Joseph Mc Grath.

Digby – The Biggest Dog in the World was a family film made in the United Kingdom rather than in the United States. It has an ordinary dog who eats a bowl of Project X and the effect that it has on him is enlarging, more than enlarging, so that he becomes this big furry bounding sheepdog. Part of the fun of the film is the kind of mayhem that he unwittingly causes as he travels round the British countryside.

The film is designed for young audiences who will get a lot of laughs out of the adventures of Digby – and some satisfaction when he emerges from the military bombing as back to his normal size.

Jim Dale, a popular comedian of screen and stage, in many of the Carry On films, is the hero. A lot of British character actors appear in support, much stronger than might be thought for a film of this scope. They include Spike Milligan, John Bluthal and Milo O’ Shea. The film was directed by Joseph Mc Grath who directed The Bliss of Mrs Blossom and The Magic Christian in the late 1960s, possibly the peak of his twenty-year career.

1. An enjoyable film? Why? Interesting and humorous?

2. Why was it made? What age group? What features of the film indicate this? Was it successful for this age group? Why?

3. Why do audiences respond to dogs? The effect of dogs on children? How attractive was Digby as a dog? As the biggest dog in the world?

4. Was the spy background successfully integrated into the film? Did it add tension and suspense? Realism? Or was there too much dialogue for younger audiences?

5. How effective was the trick photography and the magic of making Digby so big? Was the trick photography effective, well done?

6. How important for impact were the circus sequences? The roguery of Tom and Jerry, as clowns, acrobats, con-men, exhibiting the dog?

7. How attractive were the humans in the film? Did they take second place to the dog? Children’s response to them?

8. Was the comedy handled well? Comic situations with Digby, his growing, in the circus, the bombings? Jeff as a comedian and funny lines?

9. How attractive was Jeff as a hero? His forgetfulness, relating to the animals, a humorous character?

10. How well could the audience identify with Billy? And his love for the dog? His quest for the dog, especially at the end and his sadness? Final joy?

11. Janine as important for the film? As Billy’s mother, as a romantic interest?

12. How important were the criminals? Their names of Tom and Jerry? Their antics?

13. For what age group were the army sequences introduced? The slapstick humour, the poking fun at army types? The scientists and the humour at scientific types? Especially the Harsh in Spike Milligan style?

14. Was the climax well presented? Audience reaction to this?