Wishbone's Dog Days of the West
| Wishbone's Dog Days of the West | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Rick Duffield |
| Produced by | Betty A. Buckley |
| Written by |
Susan B. Chick Rick Duffield |
| Starring |
Larry Brantley Christie Abbott Mary Chris Wall Jordan Wall Wishbone |
| Music by | Tim Cissell |
| Cinematography | Bert Guthrie |
| Edited by | Michael Coleman |
Production company |
Big Feats Entertainment Lyrick Studios |
| Distributed by | PBS |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Wishbone's Dog Days of the West is a feature-length telefilm that aired on Showtime on March 13, 1998. It was shot in Galisteo and Santa Fe, New Mexico. A tornado touched down one mile from the film crew as they were shooting the western scenes. This rotating windstorm dissipated as it headed toward the set. Apache Mexican American actor Adan Sanchez appeared as the mailman, Dan Bloodgood. His earlier role on that series was Lee Natonabah in its episode Dances with Dogs, a parody title of Dances with Wolves. He died three months later in Albuquerque. The film was aired on PBS stations on March 13, 1998 and released to video on June 9, 1998.
Plot
It starts out with Joe and Wishbone going to a fair. Kids are singing on stage; the stage falls, causing the stage lights to collapse, but not before Wanda saves the children. The reporter "congratulates" her. Then, in the Wild West, Long Bill Longley and his best friend, Tom Merwin (Brent Anderson), team up to stop a bad guy named Calliope Catesby. Meanwhile, a sneaky TV reporter tries to make Wanda Gilmore (Angee Hughes) seem as if she's the town tyrant. It is up to Wishbone and his friends to come to Wanda's rescue.
Cast
Main cast
- Soccer the Dog as Wishbone (Larry Brantley as the voice of Wishbone)
- Jordan Wall as Joe Talbot
- Mary Chris Wall as Ellen Talbot
- Christie Abbott as Samantha Kepler
- Bob Reed as Walter Kepler
- Angee Hughes as Wanda Gilmore
- Paul English, Jr. as Marcus Finch
- Mikaila Enriquez as Melina Finch
- Steve Kavner as Mitch McCain
- Sean McGraw as Mr. Leon King
- Lewis Barnett Finnagan III as Hank Dutton
- Jim Ponds as Ethan Johnstone
- Julio Cedillo as Travis Del Rio
- Constance Jones as Helen Davidson
- Adam Sanchez as Dan Bloodgood
- Adair Ahrens as Ginny
- Raphael Parry as Giles Gilmore
- Todd Terry as Abel Skeleton
- Dell Johnson as Lee Johnstone
Wild West Story Cast
- Wishbone as Long Bill Longley
- Brent Anderson as Tom Merwin
- Sally Nystuen Vahle as Mame Dugan
- Mark Walters as Calliope Catesby
- Matthew Tompkins as Marshall Buck
- Akin Babatunde as Coop
- Molly McClure as Mrs. Catesby, Calliope's Mother
- Marc Mouchet as George
- Ray Reinhardt as The Magistrate
- Brennan Leverenz as Ed Merwin
- William Lawrence Allen as William Porter (O'Henry)
Reception
The movie won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design in 1998. It was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Costume Design/Styling, Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special, and Outstanding Main Title Design in 1999. A Common Sense Media review says, "The pleasing visuals and fast-moving, double-trouble plots make Dog Days of the West one of the best in the Wishbone series. The value of friendship is emphasized in this episode; the show exposes children to O. Henry's short stories and infuses the traditional western with an updated perspective. As unlikely as it seems, Wishbone's wild west fable blends nicely with the contemporary story of a TV reporter running roughshod over one of Oakdale's finest citizens. With two fast moving plots, finely drawn characters and exciting historical visuals, Dog Days of the West will keep kids, and many adults, glued to the screen".[1]
References
- ↑ Warren, Nancy. "Review: Wishbone video series". DisneyFamily.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved January 1, 2017.