Hounddog (2007)

A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.

Director:

Deborah Kampmeier

Writer:

Deborah Kampmeier

Stars:

Dakota Fanning, Granoldo Frazier, Piper Laurie

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dakota Fanning	...	Lewellen
Granoldo Frazier	...	Band Member D (as Grenaldo Frazier)
Isabelle Fuhrman	...	Grasshopper
Cody Hanford	...	Buddy
Piper Laurie	...	Grammie
Charlie Lucas	...	Band Member A
Herman McCloud	...	Band Member B
Chandler McIntyre	...	Buddy's Mother
David Morse	...	Daddy
Robin Mullins	...	Marge
Afemo Omilami	...	Charles
Tom Oppenheim	...	Mechanic
Tim Parati	...	Bartender
Ryan Pelton	...	Elvis
Robin Wright	...	Stranger Lady (as Robin Wright Penn)

Storyline

A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.

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Plot Keywords:

elvis presley | american south | child smoking cigarette | doggystyle sex | sex | 

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Taglines:

Every heart has an awakening. Every soul needs a song.

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a disturbing sexual assault of a young girl, and brief sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Dakota Fanning Project

Filming Locations:

North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,750,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,744 (USA) (19 September 2008)

Gross:

$128,092 (USA) (5 December 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deerjen Films, Full Moon Films, Motion Picture Group, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Headlines about the rape scene came out on July 21, 2006, the very day that the movie wrapped filming.

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Goofs

Elvis Presley's appearance singing "Houndog" on the Milton Berle Show took place on June 5, 1956. Several of the vehicles used in the movie were newer than this. The pink Desoto (or Dodge) was probably a 1956, but it's not likely that a rural Alabama woman would be driving a new car. The tow truck used to tow the Desoto was a 1957 at the oldest, and it was quite beat up. The red Pontiac at the Elvis concert was a 1959.

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Quotes

Lewellen: [crying] I ain't got no money. I can't go see Elvis.
Buddy: Get it from your dad, can't you?
Lewellen: He ain't got no money, either. I can't go see Elvis.
Buddy: Don't worry. We'll get the money someways. I'll get the money, I promise! Just don't cry no more, please? Lewellen, please, just don't cry.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Little Bird"
Written by G.E. Smith and Catherine Russell
Performed by G.E. Smith and Catherine Russell
Produced by Gisburg Smialek (as Gisburg)
Catherine Russell courtesy of World Village

User Reviews

Fails to convince

Reading some of the reviews here, and elsewhere, it is clear that the reviewers haven't actually seen this film - unless there are lots of different versions out there. They didn't see the film I did, for sure. There is no gratuitous or graphic violence or sex, and the only bit of nudity comes courtesy of David Morse's behind. If anything, a little more sex or violence might have enabled more of today's jaded audience to actually get the point of this movie.

As I understand it, the story they are trying to tell (in my opinion, unsuccessfully but more of that later) is of an adolescent girl who over a short period of time, due to a sequence of unfortunate events, goes from expressing herself through the voice of Elvis, to eventually being able to express her true self with her own voice, with help from Charles (Afemo Omilami).

As a story it holds water, is certainly - unfortunately - true to life and the central role is played with much maturity and sensitivity by Dakota Fanning (bar her mandatory screaming-for-no-reason scene) who may or may not have over-egged her performance (I don't know what was and wasn't said by her) but she is the one carrying this film, and it is not her fault that through clumsy editing and a weak screenplay the story kinda gets lost in the overall dullness.

None of the supporting characters are particularly well described and just when we do think we're getting to know them ... cut to a completely different scene. It's almost as if this was a vehicle for a 12-13 year old Dakota Fanning, which is not doing her, her co-stars or the film any favours. It perhaps should have been longer, and less time devoted to the relationship with her father which isn't particularly relevant to the story I think they're trying to tell.

My advice is watch it and make up your own mind, but don't expect to be shocked, disgusted, or entertained. The brief glimpses of humour and happiness are lost amongst the monotony of dull sound and scenery. Where's the rock'n'roll, where's the blues? Where are all the characters that surely must have been in the story, in the south, in the 1950s?

A worthy attempt to tell a powerful story, but lacking in flair and direction.