Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Kristy McNichol | ... | Julie Sawyer | |
Christa Lang | ... | Nurse | |
Vernon Weddle | ... | Vet | |
Jameson Parker | ... | Roland Grale | |
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Karl Lewis Miller | ... | Attacker |
Karrie Emerson | ... | Sun Bather | |
Helen Siff | ... | Pound Operator (as Helen J. Siff) | |
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Glen Garner | ... | Pound Worker (as Glen D. Garner) |
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 |
Deprogramming a dog who kills Blacks is the ultimate challenge for an unorthodox African-American trainer. When a young Hollywood actress finds the injured stray, she nurses it back to health, not knowing it's a "White Dog" trained by a racist to attack only Blacks. Julie's appalled when the otherwise gentle, white German Shepherd breaks out, then returns from his nighttime foray dotted with human blood. Julie desperately races from trainer to trainer, advised to kill her pet, until the top Hollywood canine expert refers her to his former protégé, Keys. Written by David Stevens
In Los Angeles, the unemployed young actress Julie Sawyer (Kristy McNichol) hits a white German Sheppard while driving though the hills during the night. She brings the dog to the veterinary and keeps the animal in her house on the hills. Julie takes a picture of the dog and distributes fliers with her boyfriend seeking out the owner.
When a burglar and rapist breaks in her house, the dog protects Julie and she decides to keep the animal with her. But sooner she learns the white dog is an animal trained by a racist to attack black people. However Julie has become attached to the dog and tries to find a trainer for "deprogramming" the dog. She goes to the Noah Ark, a place where the Afro-American trainer of wild animals Keys (Paul Winfield) accepts the challenge despite the difficulties of his task.
"White Dog" is among the most impressive films about racism ever made by the cinema history. The plot is very simple but touching and shows how cruel and intolerant a human being can be. The sick idea of using alcoholic or addicted black man to frequently beat up a puppy until it grows-up with hatred of black people is so despicable that it is hard to believe that it may happen.
I saw this film for the first time in the 80's and it has not aged. My vote is sight.
Title (Brazil): "Cão Branco" ("White Dog")