White Dog (1982)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Samuel Fuller

Writers:

Samuel Fuller (writer)
Romain Gary (story)

Release Date:

7 July 1982 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

...Trained To Kill [Video Australia]

Plot:

Keys is a trainer attempting to reprogram a vicious dog who's been trained to attack and kill people with black skin. |

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Racism | Cult | Accidental Nudity | Los Angeles California

Cast

Kristy McNichol	...	Julie Sawyer
Christa Lang	...	Nurse
Vernon Weddle	...	Vet
Jameson Parker	...	Roland Gray
Karl Lewis Miller	...	Attacker
Karrie Emerson	...	Sun Bather
Helen Siff	...	Pound Operator (as Helen J. Siff)
Glen Garner	...	Pound Worker
Terrence Beasor	...	Pound Driver
Tony Brubaker	...	Sweeper Driver
Samuel Fuller	...	Charlie Felton
Marshall Thompson	...	Director
Paul Bartel	...	Cameraman
Richard Monahan	...	Assistant director
Neyle Morrow	...	Soundman

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Wildlife Way Station - 14831 Little Tujunga Canyon Road, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Never released theatrically in the United States, supposedly out of concern for its controversial subject matter. It did air on HBO several times.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the dog's owner shows up at Julie's house, he rewards her for finding his pet with an unwrapped Whitman's Sampler. That boxed candy is always sold with cellophane wrapper - presumably the filmmakers thought it would be more dramatic to have lid come off and candy fly all over the place when Julie threw it back at him.

Movie Connections:

References True Grit (1969)

Review

White Dog tackles the question, "Can racism be cured?" Also what happen when the question is attached to some one you love? At what point do you stop turning a blind eye and making excuses. Right off the bat we (the audience) is lured into caring for and even loving the mysterious dog hit by a car. Accompanied with a wonderful music score we are left on the edge of our sets when were give the first dark glimpse of the pigment challenged canine.

Filled with obvious and subtle symbolism you may have to watch it twice to catch everything. Such as the uses of a R2D2 as a dartboard with syringe instead of darts. (Medicating something that cannot be medicated). With out the second look the ending only appears half as saddening at it truly is. Attached to the most satisfying seen in the move, (where our leading lady comes face to face with the dog's original owner), she comes into the contact with him. Thusly transferring sent, causing the dog to charge her and ultimately attack the owner of the animal training facility. Who bares a strong resemblance to the dog's original owner.

I could see this being remade for today's market and not doing to badly. However I do hope that doesn't happen. It could have a number negative copycat.