It's a Dog's Life

I first saw this movie many years ago, one weekend on television back when I was a child. It caused me to be eternally fascinated by bull terriers.

The movie itself, on finally seeing it again as an adult, is not nearly as bad as some reviewers would have you think. From my point of view, it doesn't condone dog-fighting, nor even abuse of women. Sure, it shows some fairly unacceptable behaviour, but I didn't get the impression that this was being shown as an example of the behaviour on which our own should be modelled. When I think how many times in my viewing history I've seen people (not necessarily women) punched, kicked, shot, tortured, and murdered in cold blood, then this movie is pretty darn tame.

Since buying the DVD, and then buying the book on which this movie was based (yes, this movie made a huge impression on the child who saw it years ago), I still think it's a good movie. Clunky, sure. A little strange sometimes - absolutely. Displays outmoded behaviours - no argument. But still, for Wildfire alone, worth a view or two.

Okay, I saw this first when I was a kid and loved it. It's a rare talking animal film from an era that didn't indulge in these kinds of things. There's really nothing cutesy about it and it's tough around the edges, possibly too much so. This is Charles Dickens territory, not Benji. But it has charms (although the brutal treatment of animals and women can rightfully discredit this film, so I offer a caveat to any sensitive viewer). There is enough things right in this film to make up for the wrong in my book. Honestly, the ugly stuff this dog character goes through without losing his innate decency is very appealing (yeah, I know, it's a talking dog--although he narrates so there is no animated mouth movements making it cartoonish). I was surprised to learn that Vic Morrow did the dog voice-over. Nice job, perhaps better than many of his on-screen performances. And always reliable Edmund Gwenn and Dean Jagger provide solid support. This is a weird one, but I find it memorable.

I first saw It's A Dog's Life a long, long time ago on TV and immediately fell in love with Bull Terriers - I have since owned two and plan to get another. It depicts the breed pretty accurately, some can be scrappers but most are playful and friendly to all, and they have loads of personality. Yes, part of the plot is organized dog-fighting and there is violence towards a woman, both of which are repugnant to any decent person, but that knowledge shouldn't put anyone off watching - those scenes aren't nice, even though they do not show the actual violence, but all-in-all there's lots to love about this story. Wildfire the dog is a charmer and, best of all, the good guys win! I just hope this delightful film will be released on DVD sometime soon, so I can replace my old copied-from-TV VHS tape!!

For me, this delightful film is reminiscent of the great classic Warner Bros. cartoons of the 50's. Especially the "dog themed" cartoons. Like the one where the mutt is trying to get Porky Pig to adopt him, remember? But the dog in this movie has a lot more "on the ball" and is not such a con-dog. If you like good Warner Bros. "dog" cartoons, you'll love this. Also, for you literati, I may add the term "Runyonesque" to this review. It's really quite unique in my experience, which is a neat trick in itself. What makes this film different from something from Disney? It's not overly cute. And not overly sentimental. And thus should be on the menu for adults as well as children.

This is an odd one. Films from a dog's point of view with human narration have been done before, but usually from the standpoint of either a dog in a troubled family situation or from the standpoint of a dog trying to get back to a beloved master after they are separated. This one dares to be different. Wildfire is a dog of the Bowery, alone in the world except for his mother, not having or seeking a master. Not only does the dog's voice sound like Frank Sinatra, the dog uses Rat Pack terminology, and plays the cool sensitive loner like Sinatra as well. As one reviewer put it, this film is quite Runyonesque. Another odd device of the film is that you don't hear the other dogs saying anything - Wildfire is the only dog that communicates with the audience in human language. This makes the film less like a cartoon and keeps the focus on Wildfire.

The film starts out with Wildfire sensing that his mother is unhappy. He goes to the elder dog of the wharf and asks him what the problem is. It turns out that Wildfire's father was a Grand Champion who has a love them and leave them attitude with the ladies, that Wildfire's mom was one of those ladies, and the result was Wildfire. Wildfire then sets out on a quest to find and kill his father for what he did to his mother. Pretty odd stuff for a talking dog movie.

Along the way he encounters two groups of people. The first group consists of the fellows who hang out in the local pub and run a dog fighting ring - Wildfire at first thinks his father's name of "Grand Champion" came from being a champion fighting dog. He gets into the business himself for awhile, but never finds his father. In the second half of the film he is taken in by a kindly old long-time servant of the wealthy Wyndham family, Jeremiah Emmett Augustus Nolan (Edmund Gwynn). The Wyndhams have problems of their own, and Wildfire and the Wyndhams manage to help each other with their respective demons.

Although the themes of dog-fighting and violence to women are part of the film, let me assure you there is nothing shown or said that would be inappropriate for a ten year old. No violence is actually shown. Highly recommended as a feel good family film.