Four-legged friends have long been stars of the silver screen, whether they’re appearing in family-fantasy classics, cult comedies, or even Oscar-winning critical darlings. Here are some of the most loyal and adventurous dogs from the movies.
Toto – The Wizard Of Oz (1939)
Breed: Cairn Terrier
Dorothy might get top billing, but most of the plaudits for The Wizard Of Oz should go to her little dog too. Whether he’s biting mean old ladies in Kansas, making a daring escape from the Wicked Witch’s castle, or pulling back the curtain to reveal the truth about the ‘great and powerful’ Oz, Toto is the one who seems to be in charge, both in the monochrome ‘real world’and the technicolour fantasy land. A dog with more heart, brains and courage than the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion put together.
Trivia: Terry, the terrier who played Toto, earned $125 a week during the shoot. That buys a lot of treats.
Hooch – Turner and Hooch (1989)
Breed: Bordeaux Mastiff
How’s this for an odd-couple: all-American good guy Tom Hanks, paired with a gigantic, drooling dog, with an impressive ability to sniff out clues. They’re Scott Turner, an uptight California police officer, and Hooch, a humungous hound, who together solve the murder of Hooch’s owner Amos Reed. Sure, Hooch has no respect for Turner’s strict house rules, but the pair become inseparable as Turner relaxes and learns to embrace the glorious chaos of dog ownership. Just skip that needlessly sad ending, ok?
Trivia: Beasley, the dog who played Hooch, was so strong that Tom Hanks would often drop the lead while shooting dog-walking scenes.
Beethoven – Beethoven (1992)
Breed: St. Bernard
You have to feel for the parents of the Newton family – Beethoven is a lot of dog to look after. But honestly, who could say no to a tiny, adorable St Bernard puppy that turns up one day, seemingly from nowhere? He more than pulls his considerable weight, helping all three Newton kids through their adolescent trials – he nabs Ryce a date, fends off Ted’s bullies, and even saves young Emily from drowning. And as in real life, it’s the one family member most resistant to own a dog – dad George – who inevitably becomes Beethoven’s biggest champion.
Trivia: Eleanor Keaton, wife of Buster Keaton, trained the dog who played Beethoven.
Baxter – Anchorman (2004)
Breed: Border Terrier
He can talk to bears. He’s like a miniature Buddha, covered in hair. He once ate an entire wheel of cheese. It’s easy to see why Baxter is Ron Burgundy’s best pal, the dog who cuts to the core of him – and why his so-called ‘punting’ off a San Diego bridge by an enraged biker sends the news anchor spiralling into a glass case of emotion. You had dog insurance{
Trivia: Baxter was named after Ted Baxter, the fictional anchor from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Jack – The Artist (2011)
Breed: Jack Russell
Unlike many movie pooches, the dog in The Artist doesn’t speak – but, then, neither does anyone else in Michel Hazanavicius’ homage to black-and-white silent cinema. The performance of dog actor Uggie proved one of the Oscar-winning film’s biggest talking points, charming on the big screen as well as on red carpets across the world in his special doggie bow tie. His time to shine comes in the film’s closest thing to an action sequence, as Jack tears down the street to attract a policeman and save his movie star owner George Valentin from perishing in a nitrate-film blaze. Good boy.
Trivia: Uggie won the Palm Dog Award at Cannes Film Festival in 2011 for his performance.
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