Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Michael Winner

Writers:

Arnold Schulman (writer) and
Cy Howard (writer)

Release Date:

26 May 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Introducing The Dog Who Launched 1000 Stars.

Plot:

In 1924 Estie comes to Hollywood to become an actress, but the dog, that followed her becomes the star. But Hollywood has its own rules of success.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Dog Actor | Film Making | Film In Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Bruce Dern	...	Grayson Potchuck
Madeline Kahn	...	Estie Del Ruth
Art Carney	...	J.J. Fromberg
Phil Silvers	...	Murray Fromberg
Teri Garr	...	Fluffy Peters
Ron Leibman	...	Rudy Montague
Robert Alda	...	Richard Entwhistle
Morey Amsterdam	...	Custard pie star
Army Archerd	...	Premiere emcee
Richard Arlen	...	Silent film star #2
Billy Barty	...	Assistant director
Edgar Bergen	...	Prof. Quicksand
Milton Berle	...	Blind man
Janet Blair	...	President's girl #3
Joan Blondell	...	Landlady

Also Known As:

Won Ton Ton (USA) (poster title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (1978) (cut) | Finland:K-16 (1977) (uncut) | USA:PG | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Arlington Theater, Santa Barbara, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Michael Winner intended to include Hedy Lamarr among the huge list of guests for the movie but she couldn't be traced.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Date on Won Ton Ton's slab in courtyard of Grauman's Chinese Theater is dated 1923 - but theater didn't even open until 1927.

Movie Connections:

References It Happened One Night (1934)

A bad movie, maybe, but a gem for old-movie-actor buffs!

I'm not surprised that someone who was in high school when this came out didn't appreciate it. It is of course as much a farce as Mad Mad Mad Mad World, but it has become a cult film for old movie buffs, because it has the most impressive cast of old movie stars, supporting actors, bit players and celebrities of any movie ever made. Movie buffs and clubs have had parties where they show the film and have people list as many players as they can identify. Don't believe it? Mouse up the whole supporting cast and feast your eyes!