Year Released: 1966
Michael's Movie Grade: C+
HistoryThis movie was based off a 1938 book by Gladys Bonwyn Stern with the same name. It is no surprise that this book would inspire a Disney movie considering that it is a silly comedy book involving animals. For a director Walt put Norman Tokar in charge. Tokar had already directed such Disney films as Big Red, Savage Sam, A Tiger Walks and Those Calloways. The writer of this film was Albert Aley and this was the only theatrical feature he ever wrote. Aley did much more work for TV writing episodes of shows like Ironside, Rawhide, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Rifleman and Have Gun- Will Travel. The cast included Dean Jones (just off his role in That Darn Cat), Suzanne Pleshette and Disney regular Charles Ruggles. This was Suzanne Pleshette's first Disney role. She would later be in The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, Blackbeard's Ghost and the Disney supervised English dub of Spirited Away. Probably her best remembered role today is as Annie Hayworth in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. The Ugly Dachshund was the last film for actor Dick Wessel. He died after principal photography was finished. Still after he passed some lines needed to be re-dubbed. Paul Frees was hired to do this dubbing. Disney fans might know Frees as the voice of Ludwig Von Drake and The Ghost Host in The Haunted Mansion ride. Cartoon fans might know him as the voice of Boris Baddenoff, Rocky and Bullwinkle's archenemy.
To play the role of the Great Dane, Brutus, one of the animal trainers found a 3 year old prize winning dog named Diego of Martincrest. Some scenes however required a dog with more experience. So a dog named Duke was his stunt double. Duke was no newcomer to Disney movies as he had previously appeared in Swiss Family Robinson.
The Ugly Dachshund was released with the Disney cartoon short, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. Critics though more of the short film than the feature. A review for The New York Times wrote "Three cheers for Winnie the Pooh! The Ugly Dachshund? He'll do." Other critics were much harsher. A review in Time magazine stated "Such comedies as this one are too wholesome for kids, too foolish for dog fanciers and a sure way to persuade young adults that movies filled with sex and violence can't be all bad." Yet audiences sure went to see this film. It earned $6 million at the box office.
Review
An enjoyable comedy, but certainly far from the excellence of earlier Disney live action comedies.
While this may not be a Disney classic, there are certainly things to enjoy here. Mark is a quite likable character. We can always relate to him and sympathize with him. This film also features some good comedy set pieces. The beginning with the traffic cop, Fran keeping Mark up all night naming the puppies, the big party and the dog show are all funny and highlights. The story also has a simple and undeniable charm.
While this movie does have some good comedy set pieces it also has some very weak ones. Watching the puppies wreck Mark's art studio is simply not funny at all. We like Mark and seeing these puppies not only destroy his studio, but to see his beloved Brutus get blamed for it leaves little to laugh about and seems annoying instead. The scene involving a ball of yarn has the same effect. A very embarrassing birthday party offers little humor as well.
The Ugly Dachshund is probably the safest movie Disney made during this period. As such there is little to make it stand out among the studio's great output. Still there is a fun little movie, even if it can't hold its own with The Parent Trap, The Absent Minded Professor or That Darn Cat.
Credits
Director: Norman Tokar.
Writer: Albert Aley.
Cast: Dean Jones (Mark Garrison), Suzanne Pleshette (Fran Garrison), Charles Ruggles (DR. J.L. Puritt), Kelly Thordsen (Officer Carmody), Parley Bear (Mel Chadwick), Robert Kino (Mr. Toyama), Mako (Kenji), Charles Lane (Judge).
Producers: Walt Disney, Winston Hibler.
Music: George Burns, Evelyn Kennedy, Franklyn Marks.
Cinematographer: Edward Colman.
Editor: Robert Stafford.
Art Directors: Carroll Clark, Marvin Aubrey Davis.
Set Decorators: Emile Kuri, Frank R. McKelvy.
Costume Designers: Gertrude Casey, Chuck Keehne.
Makeup Artists: Pat McNally, La Rue Matherson.
Assistant Director: Tom Leetch.
Second Unit Director: Arthur J. Vitarelli.
Sound Artist: Robert O. Cook.
Special Effects Artist: Eustace Lycett.
Dog Trainers: William R. Koehler, Glen Randell Jr.
Resources UsedThe Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061135/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94305/The-Ugly-Dachshund/articles.html
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Ugly%20Dachshund%20%28The%29
Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia by Dave Smith.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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