A Dog of Flanders (1935)

Tentative adaptation of Ouida's sentimental classic about a poor Flemish boy (Frankie Thomas) whose ambition is to become a painter.

Director:

Edward Sloman

Writers:

Ouida (novel), Dorothy Yost (adaptation)

Stars:

Frankie Thomas, O.P. Heggie, Helen Parrish

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Frankie Thomas	...	Nello Daas
O.P. Heggie	...	Grandfather Jehan Daas
Helen Parrish	...	Maria Cogez
DeWitt Jennings	...	Carl Cogez
Ann Shoemaker	...	Frau Ilse Cogez
Christian Rub	...	Hans
Richard Quine	...	Pieter Vanderkloot
Frank Reicher	...	Herr Vanderkloot
Nella Walker	...	Frau Vanderkloot
Addison Richards	...	Herr Herden
Josef Swickard	...	Monsieur de LaTour (replaced by Henry Kolker) (scenes deleted)
Sarah Padden	...	Frau Keller
Harry Beresford	...	Sacristan
Lightning	...	Leopold, 'Leo' the dog

Storyline

Tentative adaptation of Ouida's sentimental classic about a poor Flemish boy (Frankie Thomas) whose ambition is to become a painter.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | boy | painter | young love | genius | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

El perro de Flandes

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A contemporary news item listed Henry Kolker in the cast, but he never appeared.

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Quotes

Frau Ilse Cogez: [Herr Cogez is upset that his daughter is associating with lower class people] What is it Carl?
Carl Cogez: Again our Maria is off with that shabby boy, Nello.
Frau Ilse Cogez: Well, Carl, what harm can come of it? They're just two children. They...
Carl Cogez: Enough, Ilse. You are a woman, and therefore a fool.

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Connections

Version of A Dog of Flanders (1960)

User Reviews

Nello and his dog

I remember back in 1961 seeing David Ladd and Donald Crisp as young Nello and his grandfather in that version of A Dog Of Flanders and liking it very much. So I'm glad I finally got to see this most famous version of the story. Being from RKO Studio it hardly had the money put in it like the other one did which was I believe shot in the story's location of Belgium. In fact looking at the sets it kind of reminded me of sets from RKO's Anne Of Green Gables or Little Women. RKO like every other studio never built sets for one film. They got charming use out of them for this film.

Nello is played here by Frankie Thomas who would go on to play all American boy types like Ted Nickerson in the Nancy Drew series, or the minister's son in One Foot In Heaven or the intrepid Tim Tyler in the Tim Tyler's Luck serial. A little younger here Thomas is both winning and refreshing. His scenes with the rich girl Helen Parrish are most appealing.

Thomas has two passions, drawing and a German Shepherd dog he and Heggie took in after his cruel master left him for dead. He wants to enter an art contest with his sketches, but might not be able to afford the entry fee and they're so poor.

This version of A Dog Of Flanders is now 80 years old, but it still pulls the heartstrings. There is a silent version of this story and a more recent one that 1961. Still Frankie Thomas's will moisten your eyes unless you're a statue.