WHITE DOG

US, 1981, 85 minutes, Colour.
Kristy Mc Nicoll, Paul Winfield, Burl Ives, Jameson Parker, Marshall Thompson.
Directed by Samuel Fuller.

White Dog is a Samuel Fuller film. It is based on a story and articles by novelist Romain Gary (Roots of Heaven, Promise at Dawn). The film was controversial on its first release in the United States. It is a film about racism. The white dog is a modern racist symbol - a dog trained to attack blacks..

The film has been considered a liberal parable. The attractive young heroine, Kristy Mc Nicoll, injures the dog and wants to care for it. It protects her against robbers. However, unbeknown to her, it attacks and kills negroes. Eventually she discovers the truth and is horrified. She wants it trained as a normal dog - Carruthers (played by Burl Ives) and his assistant Keyes, a black trainer (Paul Winfield) try to change the attitudes of the dog. However, it is subject to confusion and does not know whom to attack or whom not to attack. Many commentators saw the film almost as an allegory applying the experience of the dog to its effect on the American white liberal conscience.

Some audiences found the film too direct and missed the allegorical significance, condemning the film as a mediocre piece. Others, praising Fuller for his direct way of telling a story and for his intentions, have seen the film as something of a masterpiece of its kind.

1. The impact of the film? interesting, enjoyable? The reaction of the critics both for and against? The lack of response by the public? Style, themes?

2. The work of Samuel Fuller - an individual director, a strong and tough point of view, a journalistic background, an eye for a strong story, an eye for liberal message? A director always strong on action and a sense of the physical? The physical as symbolic of the spiritual? The film as parable or allegory - the facts of the plot: the Californian setting, the background of affluence, the status of whites, the status of African Americans? The history of white-black relationships in the United States? The slaves and the guard dogs hounding them? Racism in the '70s and '80s? The violent atmosphere of American society? Questions of conscience and the prodding of conscience?

4. The focus on the dog: the credits in black and white, the darkness of the accident, coming into light? (Enlightening the white liberal conscience?), audience response to the events and to the characters? To the animal? The beginnings of a pleasant animal film? Julie and her care for the dog, her concern at the accident, taking him to be cared for? Attractive Middle America? Taking the dog home and her wanting to keep it? Not being able to find the owner after advertising? The atmosphere in the evening - the irony of the dog in front of the television and the violent war film? The prowler and the vicious attack by the white dog? The dog and its confronting Roland? Growling? Suspicion? its running free - and Julie's delight, the chasing of the rabbit? The return and the irony of the audience knowing that it had violently killed the black man? The impact of the revelation of the role of the white dog? The chase of the dog, the significance of its going into the church, the portrayal of windows with St. Francis and the Christian themes of love of animals - and the relationship to the American conscience? The film production, the Venetian scene, the white dog attacking the black actress? The dog being identified as a white dog and therefore becoming symbol? The consequences, Julie and her grief, taking the dog to Carruthers, pleading with them for retraining him, the relationship with Keyes? The visuals of the training - like the gladiator arena, the dog to be brainwashed? The effect, its escape and disturbing the other animals? The continuing of the St. Francis theme? Keyes taming, feeding the animal? The visual techniques of slow motion and running for the dog and its change, snarling? The tests and the dog's confusion, success? The importance for Keyes to be able to shoot the dog? Its attack on Carruthers? Death? Instincts, change? The allegorical principles as regards prejudice?

5. Racism and the American background, the slaves, the attacks of the guard dogs? The two little girls and the real owner and Julie's emotional response, the audience sharing it? Ordinary people with a vicious racist symbol of their own feelings?

6. Julie and her liberal ideals - her beautiful house, freedom? hitting the dog and reacting? her career and her losses? The Venice scene? Ads? The bond with Roland? At home, the dog attacking the prowler, chasing the rabbit? her searching for the dog and going to the pound? The impact of the pound and the deaths of the dogs? The studio and the dog's
response? The visit to her girlfriend in hospital? Talking with Carruthers, Keyes? Her feeding the dog and spoiling its training? Her hopes, watching the training, the tests? The escape? The dramatic finale? The white dog and liberal hopes? Confused attitudes - leading to death? (By a black man firing a gun)?

7. Carruthers and the true grit style, genial, his talk, experience with animals, show business? Stunt work and the reference to films? The disturbance amongst the animals and his coping? The end and his resembling the owner of the dog? A man of experience?

8. Keyes and his training the dog, negro, in himself, his theories - theoretical, training, brainwashing, keeping on and not destroying, the tests, the eyes and the confrontation? The psychological confrontation? Slow motion? The dog's escape, death? The gun and the finale?

9. The animals and the colosseum, disturbed - the upset in nature and Fuller's skill at suggesting unrest.

10. The background of Hollywood, films, film-making, references, careers, homage to other films (Fuller appearing himself, Paul Bartel, Marshall Thompson as the director)? Roland and his attitudes? Reality and unreality - realism, the studio and the backdrops?

11. Fuller's skill at B-budget and style films - used for effectiveness in this film?

12. The film as a piece of Americana? An allegory of and for the '80s?