THE SHAGGY D.A.

US, 1976, 91 minutes, colour.
Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Tim Conway, Vic Tayback, Hans Conreid, Keenan Wynn, Dick Van Patten.
Directed by Robert Stevenson.

A sequel to the late fifties' Disney success 'The Shaggy Dog'. Tommy Kirk turned into a dog when an incantation on a medieval ring was spoken. Now he has grown up into Dean Jones wanting to go for D.A. but continually turning into a dog. This is conventional Disney material of the seventies enhanced by the villainous presence of Keenan Wynn - the villain in many of these films of the time. Susanne Pleshette and Dean Jones and Tim Conway as the befuddled second hero are also regulars. The routines are much less elaborate than usual and so the whole is mildly entertaining.

1. An entertaining Disney film? Overall impact of comedy, fantasy in the middle of real lift? Clean cut American values, villains?

2. The conventions of the genre and the way that they are used: the American family of the seventies, robberies and crime? Honest John and the irony, the politics of the time? Tim and his girl friend and the ordinary people? The satire in the presentation of groups in the city? The humour of Wilby turning into a dog and the various routines? The chases? Better than usual, different?

3. Colour photography, musical score, special effects especially Wilby's changing into Elwood? The use of the conventions of Elvood driving the car etc.? The humour of the dogs talking and the style of this? The humour of such sequences as Tim wanting the dog to speak but it really being Elwood? The overall impact of the effects?

4. The suspension of belief in the credibility of the plot? The Professor and his tour with the explanation of the ring, the reading of the inscription and its effect on Wilby? Coping with turning into a dog and the various devices used by Betty and the family? Honest John and his holding power over Wilby for political purposes? How important was the fantasy element?

5. The character of Wilby and his earnestness - his reaction to the family's being robbed, Betty persuading him to go for D.A., his relationship with his son? The confrontations with Honest John? As a dog relating to Tim? With the robbers? The Police? Betty and her support, managing his campaign? Their son, a typical boy of the seventies?

6. The presentation of Tim for the slow-up evil? Enjoyable material for younger audiences to test their values?