A Dog of Flanders (1959 film)
A Dog of Flanders is a 1960 American drama film directed by James B. Clark, with stars David Ladd, Donald Crisp and Theodore Bikel. It is based on the 1872 novel of the same name by Ouida. It was released on March 17, 1960 by 20th Century Fox in CinemaScope and Color by De Luxe[3]
| A Dog of Flanders | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | James B. Clark |
| Produced by | Robert B. Radnitz |
| Screenplay by | Ted Sherdeman |
| Based on | the novel by Ouida |
| Starring | David Ladd Donald Crisp Theodore Bikel |
| Music by | Paul Sawtelle Bert Shefter Santa Cecilia Academy Orchestra and Chorus of Rome |
| Cinematography | Otto Heller, B.S.C. |
| Edited by | Benjamin Laird |
Production company | Associated Producers Inc |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $600,000[1] |
| Box office | $3 million[2] |
The film has a happy ending for the boy and his dog.
"Patrasche" is played by Spike the Mastador, best known for playing the title character in Old Yeller.[4]
Cast
- David Ladd as Nello Daas
- Donald Crisp as Jehan Daas
- Theodore Bikel as Piet Van Gelder
- Max Croiset as Cogez the miller
- Monique Ahrens as Corrie
- Siohban Taylor as Alois Cogez
- Gijsbert Tersteeg as the landlord
- John Soer as the peddler
- Katherine Holland as the miller's wife
- Lo van Hensbergen as the priest
- "Patrasche"
- Hans Tiemeyer
- Maxim Hamel
- John De Freese
- Mathieu van Eysden
- Katja Berndsen
- Heleen van Meurs
- Ulla Larsen
Production
Robert L. Lippert enjoyed success with a children's film starring David Ladd called The Sad Horse.[5]
The film was announced in March 1959.[6][7] Robert L. Lippert says the film was originally shot in black and white "but everything was so beautiful so we changed it to color."[2]
Filming started June 22, 1959.[8] The film was shot in Holland and Belgium.[9]
It included a 12-minute scene were Theodore Bikel gives a painting lesson. "Everybody thought they were crazy when he did that", said producer Radnitz. "But the kids loved it."[10]
Comic book adaption
- Dell Four Color #1088 (April 1960)[11][12]
Reception
The film was one of Lippert's most successful films commercially making over $3 million.[2] Hedda Hopper called it "the sleeper of the year."[13]
Lippert bought a story, Gallus to make as a follow up for Clark and Ladd.[14] However the film was not made. They ended up making Misty.
Writer Ted Sherdeman and director Clark later formed their own company, Gemtaur.[15]
The film was first in the children's film category at the Venice Film Festival.[10]
See also
References
- Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p252
- Ryon, A. (Sep 23, 1962). "Third-run film king tells industry's woes". Los Angeles Times – via ProQuest.
- DOG OF FLANDERS, A. (1960, Monthly Film Bulletin, 27, 52. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/1305821308
- "A dog's career". Los Angeles Times. Mar 8, 1960 – via ProQuest.
- Scheuer, P. K. (Oct 26, 1959). "Lippert hails era of $300,000 hits". Los Angeles Times – via ProQuest.
- "FILM LAND EVENTS". Los Angeles Times. Mar 10, 1959 – via ProQuest.
- MURRAY SCHUMACH (May 12, 1959). "STORM IS BREWED IN POOL AT METRO". New York Times – via ProQuest.
- "BIG FISHERMAN' TO BOW AT RIVOLI". New York Times. May 23, 1959 – via ProQuest.
- Dexter, Maury (2012). Highway to Hollywood (PDF). p. 104.
- MURRAY SCHUMACH (Sep 27, 1960). "Children's films are challenge to makers of 'dog of flanders'". New York Times – via ProQuest.
- "Dell Four Color #1088". Grand Comics Database.
- Dell Four Color #1088 at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Hopper, H. (Jan 9, 1960). "Looking at hollywood". Chicago Daily Tribune – via ProQuest.
- "FILMLAND EVENTS". Los Angeles Times. Jan 5, 1960 – via ProQuest.
- Scheuer, P. K. (Apr 15, 1960). "New york's equity issues ultimatum". Los Angeles Times – via ProQuest.
External links
- A Dog of Flanders on IMDb
- A Dog of Flanders at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Dog of Flanders at BFI
- A Dog of Flanders at the TCM Movie Database
- A Dog of Flanders at AllMovie
- A Dog of Flanders at TV Guide (a revised and expanded version of 1987 write-up which was originally published in The Motion Picture Guide)