THE SHAGGY DOG
US, 1959, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Fred Mac Murray, Jean Hagen, Tommy Kirk, Annette Funicello.
Directed by Charles Barton.
The Shaggy Dog was a very popular Disney film of the late19 50s. In black and white, it nevertheless took audiences' fancy. rather silly in its way: the average American way caricatured, Fred Mac Murray as an idiot father-postman, Jean Hagen as a rather dumb, yes-saying mother. Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran, veteran of many Disney films, were the sons.
The film shows life in the American town - but there is a variation with an espionage plot. There is also a plot where the absent minded son played by Kirk turns into a shaggy dog - and out again. The film is leisurely paced, sometimes makes a great deal of its dog jokes (with Kirks' voice, in pyjamas and cleaning its teeth, driving a car etc.) Direction is by Robert Stevenson who directed many Disney films including some of its most successful, including Mary Poppins.
1. Entertaining, comedy, farce? Fantasy, the animals? The espionage plot?
2. Black and white photography? Ordinary America, stunts and special effects? The musical score?
3. The title, introduction with the Shaggy dog story? The film as a film of the 1950s? Made with a low budget The plot outline? the shaggy dog itself?
4. The basic situation: the family, the American family? Dad as the parent, never seeing him at work? His irritability, treatment of his children, of Frieda? Frieda as the obedient wife, her shrewdness at times? Handling the situations? Wilby and Moochie? Wilby and his experiments, the rocket? His father severe on him? Moochie as the young boy and his role in the family? Genial American family, Wilby, misunderstood, his father's severity, having to get rid of everything? Buzz and the rivalry with Alison? The attraction to Francesca? Going out, tending Ruzz money? The visit to the museum, the discussion with the Professor; taking the ring, going home, repeating the formula, the spell and his gradual turning into the dog? Coping with Moochie, avoiding his father, getting some food? The adventure as a dog? Being hidden in the cupboard, getting out? His overhearing the plot? Turning into a dog at the dance? Telling Moochie, going back to the house, turning back into himself, hidden, back again to the dog, rescuing Francesca? Buzz taking the credit? Their fight? The humorous touches, the dog doing human things, driving the car, telephoning? The reaction of the police? and himself being abandoned by Alison?
5. Wilson Daniels and Fred McMurray's comic style, the idiot father, awkward, poked fun at? Treatment of his family? His reaction to dogs and his allergies, all in the mind, relationship with his wife?
6. The incident with the dog collar getting the gun, being persuaded of the truth by Moochie, going to the police, the psychiatrist, and his seeming more idiotic? The grand finale and his heroism, being photographed with the dog? Frieda as the obedient wife, love for her children, her husband?
7. Francesca and her father, coming to the neighbourhood, attracting the boys, their speaking broken English? At school, outings, at the dance? The rivalry with Alison? Her relationship with her father, finally being kidnapped, failing overboard, rescued by Tilby?
8. The spies, in the ordinary American town, the museum? the art pieces? The servant? The contact from the factory? Plans, adaptations, getaway and chase? The credibility of the espionage? The role of the local police?
9. The police, the men on the beat, the policeman seeing the dog, not believing, the dog driving the car? The officers and the espionage, the psychologist?
10. The professor, his exhibition, explanation of the spell, making it credible?
11. The boy around town, rivalry with Alby, taking Alison out? His comeuppance?
12. Popular ingredients, television situation comedy style? The popularity of this Disney film?
