Thursday, April 9, 2020

Thursday Movie Picks-Animals

I chose this week’s theme over at Wandering Through The Shelves because I love animals and we never had one about these critters before. There are many great animals that have acted in films and were not digitized like the recent film Call of the Wild. You have the great Rin Tin Tin who saved Warner Brothers from Bankruptcy to Toto, Asta, Cheetah, Morris the cat, Moose from Frazier, the sweet Uggie, and, of course, Lassie. There are more but here are my 3...

1. OH HEAVENLY DOG-1980


This film stars Chevy Chase who considers it his worst film and refuses to watch it. I saw this in the theatre and would like to see it again because I thought it was a nice movie. It stars Chevy Chase as a PI on a case only to be killed and given the ability to go back as a dog. From then on we only hear Chase’s voice but we don’t see him. Benji is the dog that comes back to find his killer and meets up with the young woman he asked out before he was killed played by the beautiful Jane Seymour. Benji got star billing because this is one famous dog. Actually Higgins, who starred in Petticoat Junction(tv show) became hugely famous as the star of Benji, a film I almost used today. Sadly he died before this film came out but his daughter, named Benji, was the star. Humm, I wonder if Chevy's ego was hurt...probably.

2. THE BEAR-1988


This is a film about an orphaned young bear, yup loses his mom to hunters, who tries to survive the brutal world, he ends up meeting up with a male bear who has no desire to have this youngin’ tag along but soon this older bear starts teaching the young one and becomes his protector especially from the hunters. Bart the bear is one huge bear with a distinctive lower lip that can make him look quite menacing as in the film, The Edge. I still am on pins and needles for the little bear but I am so happy Bart is there for him. Bart was a sweetheart and a true gentle giant.

3. HIDALGO-2004

This was a film Viggo Mortensen made right after Lord Of The Rings, where he did most of his own stunts and bought the horse after the film was done. This is based on a true story where an alcoholic cowboy who is part of the Wild West Show, is given the chance to partake in a gruelling 3,000 mile race in Arabia. He goes only to be ridiculed because of his Pinto horse who has a mind of its own. This horse is his saviour and gets the respect of the men and women who are part of this race. This is a good ole fashioned adventure film that is worth watching.

Which 3 films would you choose?

I have to pay tribute to Rin Tin Tin who may have won the first oscar for best actor until the academy said that one could not vote for animals. This dog is the reason German Shepherds became a regular dog in North America.

49 comments:

  1. Never saw any of these. But as a kid, I watched Lassie on TV. First though about a film with an animal was National Velvet.

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  2. Hi, Birgit!

    You might have read recently that Stella (real name Beatrice), the French bulldog that was the animal star of the hit TV series Modern Family, died only days after the series finale was in the can.

    https://theblast.com/c/beatrice-stella-modern-family-dies-dog

    I love the Rod Serling narration on the Oh Heavenly Dog trailer. I think it is a mistake for a celebrity, in this case Chevy Chase, to reveal to fans that he hated a particular film project. For the many fans of that film, such an announcement tarnishes their happy memories, ruins the experience of watching it again and undermines their faith and confidence in the actor. It pays to state things in the positive. I haven't seen Heavenly Dog but it does look like a cute movie and I like Jane Seymour.

    I did see The Bear but did not see Hidalgo. I watched the Rin Tin Tin television series of the 50s along with Jeff's Collie, Timmy & Lassie and the Disney movie The Shaggy Dog in which Tommy Kirk is transformed into an Old English Sheepdog. Other animal movies include Benji (a different dog actor), the tear-jerker Old Yeller, Babe the pig, March of the Pengins, Seabiscuit, Mighty Joe Young, My Friend Flicka, 101 Dalmations, Flipper and Black Beauty.

    Have a safe and healthy day, dear friend BB!

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    1. Yes, the Rod Serling style was great to listen to. I think you would like Hidalgo and hope you see it. You chose some great movies like The Shaggy DA. Yes, I saw the film Benji but that wasn’t his name and the poor dog died , I think in 1975, so this was his daughter named Benji. March of the Penguins is a great choice as well.

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    2. Oh hey...The Great Rupert!

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    3. Yessum, I should have remembered Rupert because I discussed that movie in my April Fools' post! :)

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  3. The Bear was intense. Enjoyed Hidalgo as well.
    Does it have to be real live animals? Because I would pick Jurassic Park and Jaws.

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    1. The Bear was intense. Yes those 2 work for sure.

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  4. I've only seen Hidalgo from your list which I remember being quite bored with even though I like Viggo. If the same Bear that's in THE BEAR is the one from The Edge, then he traumatized me as a child. lol

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    1. Oh no...boring? God no..hahahaaa. Yes, Bart, the bear is the same bear as in The Edge

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  5. I can understand why Chevy isn't too fond of Oh, Heavenly Dog-they always say don't try and compete with kids and animals in a film but it's a pleasant little film and Jane Seymour is gorgeous.

    Hildago in some ways reminded me of The Electric Horseman, which I am now kicking myself for not using!, but it was different enough to be its own vehicle. I enjoyed it when I watched it but once was enough.

    Rin Tin Tin was a smart dog but having seen a couple of his films I don't have a great desire to see more. However within the context of the time I can see how he caught on.

    Funnily enough even though all of mine come from the 60's I've only seen two of them within the last month! Born Free though was a staple when I was growing up.

    Rascal (1969)-Near the turn of the last century in a small Wisconsin town young Sterling North (Bill Mumy) adopts a baby raccoon-Rascal and spends most of that summer trying to keep him out of trouble while his widowed traveling salesman father Willard (Steve Forrest) is away on business. Disney produced reverie based on the autobiographical book by North.

    Born Free (1966)-In a Kenyan game preserve wardens Joy and George Adamson (played by real life marrieds British performers Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers) discover three young cubs whose mother has been shot by poachers. They care for the three at the reserve until the two larger cubs are sent to a zoo, but both develop a special kinship with Elsa, the runt of the litter. Being of a gentle disposition they at first keep her as a pet but when the prospect of George’s reassignment and the threat of having to send Elsa to a zoo arises the couple decide that since she was born free they have to reintegrate her into the wild. Based on a true story.

    Black Zoo (1963)-At the private zoo “Conrad’s Animal Kingdom” warped owner Michael Conrad (Michael Gough) is up to no good. He rules over a cult of animal worshippers whose fealty is only to the four footed beasts and when anyone poses a threat to their society Conrad has trained the animals to dispatch them in gruesome ways.

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    1. I have not seen Black Zoo and not sure I will but..maybe because I do love Theatre of Blood. I love Born Free and watched it many times and can’t understand why I didn’t choose this one or the one with Tony Randall and this lion. It stars Shirley Jones as well but can’t recall the name and am not googling it. I have not seen your first choice either but it sounds good. There are many fun animals movies out there.

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    2. Oh that was Fluffy that starred Shirley and Tony!! It was paper thin but thanks to those two a pleasant enough time passer. I doubt that either of them pointed to it with any sort of idea that it was one of the better things they did.

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  6. I saw The Bear and Hidalgo; that's pretty good for me LOL. I enjoy movies about animals but to this day I still can't watch dog movies especially if something is going to happen to the dog. Can't do that or books. May not be ever able to again.

    betty

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    1. Oh Heavenly Dog turns out well. I’m with you, I made the mistake of watching Marley and Me and cried and cried.

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  7. I love movies about animals! I haven't seen the first one, but I loved the other two. We recently seen "Call of the Wild" and I can't say how I felt about that one. I was disappointed that the animals were CGI and their expressions were overly humanized, but I liked the story.
    Have a great rest of your week,
    Andrea

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    1. I love the book Call of the Wild and have read it several times so whe I saw the CGI dog giving human looks, I have no desire to see it.

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  8. Usually I’ve at least heard of your choices, but today’s have all passed me by!

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    1. Oh no...bummer. You probably walked around the English countryside shown in Babe

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  9. I loved, loved, loved Hildago. My understanding is that the character the story was based on did a lot to champion mustang rights.
    YOU stay safe. Be healthy.

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    1. Glad you love this film like I do. Yes, I had read about this man and how much he championed the mustang which was looked down upon.

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  10. OMG, I LOVE Oh, Heavenly Dog! It's one of my all-time favorites. It came out when I was in the 3rd grade, and it was on one of the early HBOs, ON TV. I watched that thing so many times. I even have it on video somewhere (or I did). I can practically quote it. I haven't seen it in a while. Elton John sings on the soundtrack.

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    1. I’m glad you have seen this movie and like it so much, I haven’t seen it in years and want to watch it again.

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  11. I became a fan of Mortensen after I saw Hidalgo. That was an amazing story.

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  12. Great idea for suggesting this week's TMP. Interesting that you went with all live-action movies. I actually haven't seen any of these but wow, Viggo Mortensen made HIDALGO right after Lord Of The Rings? I need to watch that one pronto!

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    1. I only thought of live action films and didn’t want to choose animation. Hidalgo is excellent

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  13. I've heard of them all but haven't seen any. I tend to shy away from animal films because I love animals and if they get hurt or worse yet, die, in the film I sit there crying. I remember seeing Marley and Me in the theatre and in the end all you could hear was sniffling and nose blowing. Happy Thursday. Hope you are enjoying your week.

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    1. Yeah, I don’t want to see any films where an animal dies because it haunts me like the first John Wick film. It is so disturbing that it haunts me to this day. I made the mistake of watching Marley and Me and cried and cried. I can’t see it again.

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  14. I haven't even heard of any of these. Some days I feel like I've lived under a rock all my life. Enjoyed (as always) all your synopses, though.

    Hope you are well and staying safe.

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    1. Hahahaaa. No, you just have different interests but I am glad you enjoy what I write

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  15. Hi Birgit....happy easter even if it is going to be one spent at home!...havnt seen any of the films...working my way through box sets during our lockdown....take care xxx

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    1. Happy Easter to you as well and I am aok staying home for Easter. I’m not feeling that well today but I have been creating cards also.

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  16. I haven't seen any of your picks but the Viggo Mortensen one is already on my watchlist.

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  17. Seen em all at my sea. Yeah, Chevy's ego probably didn't like that the dog out shined him. Homeward Bound would be up there for me.

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    1. I have yet to see Homeward Bound but was scared one would die but I heard none do not.

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  18. I missed your first pick, but the other two I have seen. Animal films can certainly have their charm though they can be rather cloying as well. One of the most exasperating films I've seen (and intensely disliked) was Marley and Me--I cheered when that dog died at the end.

    I grew up with Lassie and Rin Tin Tin and loved those animal characters watching their TV shows. One of my favorite animal stars was Cheetah from the Tarzan films. I've always had a thing for chimpanzees. They are so much fun to watch though in real life they can rip your face off.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Oh gosh, I don’t know you...hahahaaa. I cried when I saw Marley and Me. I am so glad you mentioned Cheetah which was a main character in the Tarzan films with Johnny Weissmuller especially. Cheetah had a thing for Johnny and hated poor Maureen O’Sullivan that he would bite her when he had the chance. She didn’t care for this ape..no kidding!

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  19. Great topic, BIRGIT!

    It seems I prefer my movie animals animated.

    #1 on my list, absolutely, is Disney's 'SONG OF THE SOUTH', with Br'er Bear, Br'er Fox, and of course, Br'er Rabbit. Plus a whole lotta other animals, like turtles, frogs, humming birds, and the bluebird of happiness.

    #2 for me is 'WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT', with not just Roger, but also Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Porky Pig, and others. Terrific movie!

    For #3, I will actually go with a *real* living, breathing animal. Well, living and breathing in 1952 when the movie was released. I'll take Bob Hope's 'SON OF PALEFACE' which also featured Roy Rogers and his pal, Trigger, "the smartest horse in the movies!"

    Fun topic, and definitely overdue.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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    1. I still have to see Song of the South but love your choice of Roger Rabbit-great pick. Trigger is a great horse and so was Silver from The Lone Ranger. I thought of Mr. Ed and that donkey that talked...poor Donald O’Connor

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  20. Never saw them either. Look like good movies. Mind you I tend to cry easily with animal stories.

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  21. HIdalgo was a surprisingly good flick. What no Flipper?

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  22. I always watched Rin Tin Tin when I was a kid. Showing my age here.
    Hope you had a Hoppy Easter:)

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  23. Birgit,

    "Oh, Heavenly Dog!" is a great 80s film. We saw that more than once in the theater back in the day. This was at the height of Chevy Chase's career when he did several great comedies. Thanks for sharing and bringing back some fun memories. :)

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  24. Interesting animal movie picks! Always adding new films to my must see list!

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