The Shaggy D.A. (1976)

A lawyer makes an interesting discovery that could affect his chances of getting elected to office.

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Don Tait (screenplay), Felix Salten (novel)

Stars:

Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Suzanne Pleshette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dean Jones	...	Wilby Daniels
Tim Conway	...	Tim
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Betty Daniels
Keenan Wynn	...	John Slade
Jo Anne Worley	...	Katrinka Muggelberg
Dick Van Patten	...	Raymond
Shane Sinutko	...	Brian Daniels
Vic Tayback	...	Eddie Roschak
John Myhers	...	Adm. Brenner
Richard Bakalyan	...	Freddie (as Dick Bakalyan)
Warren Berlinger	...	Dip
Ronnie Schell	...	T.V. Director
Jonathan Daly	...	T.V. Interviewer
John Fiedler	...	Howie Clemmings
Hans Conried	...	Prof. Whatley

Storyline

Sequel to the 1959 movie about a boy who gets turned into a dog because of an ancient ring which some say is cursed. Today the boy, Wilby Daniels is a grown man, a lawyer and with a family. When they're robbed and Wilby tries to report it to police but only gets the run around, he decides to run for District Attorney or D.A. Because he believes that the current D.A. John Slade is not only doing his job but is on the take. When Daniels publicly denounces Slade, Slade decides to try and get something on him. And he might have found it when the ring that turned him into a dog when he was a boy is stolen from the museum and when the words inside are read, he turns into a dog.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | district attorney | ring | lawyer | barefoot | 

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Taglines:

It's Laughter By The Pound! You'll Roll Over, Sit Up, And Beg For More!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Förvandlingen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of director Robert Stevenson.

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Goofs

When Tim brings the dog into the bar for the second time he pulls a barstool out for the dog. A crew member's hand is clearly visible grabbing hold of it at the bottom to keep it steady.

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Quotes

Eddie Roschak: Well, I just don't like these... enthusiastic amateurs.

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Connections

Spoofs Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"The Shaggy D.A."
Sung by Dean Jones
Written by Shane Tatum and Richard McKinley

User Reviews

Another hirsute dilemma

Typical Disney 70's fare with the usual cast (Jones, Conway, Wynn) associated with the studio at the time, here focusing on the kid from the original "Shaggy Dog" 1959 movie, all grown up (Jones) and still having issues with his canine transformations. Crooked senator Wynn is determined to get his hands on the magic ring that will enable the metamorphosis, but predictably, the old dog has a few new tricks up his sleeve to counter every attempt.

Conway plays the ice-cream vendor caught up in the calamities, Vic Tayback as a racketeer in cahoots with Wynn, and Dick Van Patten has a minor role as Wynn's chauffeur. The sultry Suzanne Pleshette plays Jones' domestic retreat, despite having little to offer the film, still adds a much needed spark.

No surprises, it's inoffensive (a bit of gun-play, but no actual violence) slapstick comedy that would appeal to the young family audience.