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, David Morse, Piper Laurie

2 wins & 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
Blake Rayne	...	Elvis (as Ryan Pelton)
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:

child rape | grandmother granddaughter relationship | father daughter relationship | child smoking cigarette | child's point of view | 

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Taglines:

Gotta always somehow make good outta what can poison you.

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Lachman, the original cinematographer, had to leave after two weeks of shooting to work on another film. Jim Denault shot for the next month; gaffer Stephen Thompson took over near the end of shooting.

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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: What do you want?
Charles: I want you to come in and sing with me.
Lewellen: I don't feel good.
Charles: I know, missie, I know.
Lewellen: I wanna go home.
Charles: Just come in and sing one song with me first.
Lewellen: Leave me alone.
Charles: I ain't goin' to.
Lewellen: I really don't want to!
Charles: What you gonna do with that hole? When what you love is stolen and ripped away from you, there's a hole there. You got to fill all those empty hollow places. You gotta fill 'em when they turn mean. They turn mean and eat you alive.
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The film has a 2008 copyright date in the credits, despite first being shown in early 2007.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Drew Barrymore/Lily Allen (2007)

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Soundtracks

Can't Help Falling in Love
Written by George David Weiss (as George Weiss), Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore
Performed by Dakota Fanning

User Reviews

Great movie not pointless at all not gross

This was really an excellent movie. Anyone who says this movie was pointless or boring I don't have any idea why. This movie was the complete opposite, I think it was the first movie I've seen in a long time that had a point and was not mindless or boring.

I'm a fourteen year old and the movie was great, it was very relatable even though I haven't been through any sexual abuse.

If a movie can relate to me so deeply even though I didn't grow up in that time period, grew up in New York City, and did not go through some of the things she went through then I really think it's an excellent movie.

The content was not disturbing to me at all in a sense most people say. I think most people who say it's disturbing haven't seen the movie because yes, it is very real and true but not gross. I think it's great the director/writer touched on the subject of sexual abuse in such a great way because that subject is not brought up often in our society but it's something that is happening.

I was not sure of seeing this movie-not because of the rape scene because I knew people were making such a big deal of it but because of the other comments about how the movie wasn't going anywhere or was pointless. But I was so surprised that they were so wrong and that for me and from what I could see in the audience it was the complete opposite of pointless.

Bottom line if you haven't seen the movie already and aren't sure if you ant to go and see it, go and see it. I wasn't sure if I should see this movie either but it turned out to be one of the best movies I've seen in a long time with great writing, directing, and acting. Very real but not gross or disturbing and a story that needed to be told.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 January 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hounddog

Filming Locations:

North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,750,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,744, 21 September 2008

Gross USA:

$131,961

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$131,961

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deerjen Films, Full Moon Films, The Motion Picture Group

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Dolby 5.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1