BEETHOVEN

US, 1992, 87 minutes, Colour.
Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Oliver Platt, David Duchovny, Stanley Tucci.
Directed by Brian Levant.

Beethoven is not the musician but a very large dog. The film was a great success with family audiences all over the world. It has the usual dog jokes and does them with some finesse and a great sense of humour. Charles Grodin is a good sport in being the cantankerous father of the family who is not at all persuaded of Beethoven's charms like his wife and children. Dean Jones(who loves dogs in such Disney films as The Shaggy D.A.) is a villainous vet. There are comic villains (like those in Home Alone) and some American children with cute touches but not too sugary. The very attractive score by Randy Edelman contributes to the atmosphere.

1. The popularity of dog films? Dogs, playfulness? Pets?

2. American suburbia, the street, house, school, vet's office? Audiences identifying with the situations?

3. Dog stories? The stunt work? The contribution of the musical score?

4. Audiences and pets, loving pets, pets as threats? The disruption and mess of pets for those who do not like them?

5. The opening with the dog catchers, their taking the dogs? The violence towards the animals? The doctor, sinister, his thick lenses, his voice? The plans? The stealing of the dogs -the alarm in the shop? The truth, the behaviour of the two dog catchers? The dogs escaping? Their later plan with the testing of ammunition with the does? The final getting rid of the evidence? The dog chases, hopping the fence only to find the guard dogs? In court?

6. The introduction to Beethoven and the other dogs? Taken, the escape? The pet shops? Beethoven and his hiding in the garbage tin? Meeting George, going into the house, the dogs eye tour of the house and the introduction to the children? The question about his name and the piano playing? The varying reactions to Beethoven? The scenes of his growing up very quickly? The amount of mess made in the house? Wasting a lot? in his kennel, getting out the back? Going to school and helping Rice and the fetching of the stick? Frightening the bullies With Ted? His sense of Emily in danger, rescuing her from the pool? The financial backers and his dislike of them?

7. Their affectation, tying them to the chairs of the table, racing away with them? The vet and his attack, Beethoven as victim? His being taken by George, put into the cages? The final escape, the confrontation - and the reconciliation all round? Beethoven as the family pet despite the costs the food? And all the dogs in the bedroom at the end?

7. The American family: Emily, her love for the dog, her lying in the pool, being rescued by Beethoven? her seeing what the vet did? Rice and her attraction towards Varic, his ignoring her, looking at him - and Beethoven's help? The final phone call? Ted, his glasses, bullied in the dining room? On the bus? Beethoven's scaring the bullies off? his toning up his muscles in the mirror? George, his dislike of Beethoven, being the victim of all Beethoven's mess on his room, his clothes, his food? Alice and her liking Beethoven? The children's reaction to Beethoven's attack, to the vet? To their father's heroism - his climbing the wall, crashing through the roof, confronting the vet? The children driving the car? their going on and becoming the heroic family?

9. The business partners, their affectation, their visit and Beethoven's sensing them? Not signing the document? Their comeuppance?

10. The sinister doctor, his plans with the animals, being a vet? The company and the money for the tests? His treatment of Beethoven? the visit to the house, George and the confrontation, pretending the attack had taken place?

12. The chemical injections at the end?

13. The popular ingredients for the family film, dangers and crooks, heroic dogs, comic touches and jokes? And the happy family at the end?