White Dog DVD review

The Film:

I don’t really say this much but I’m glad a film like White Dog exists. Call me naïve or whatever, but I had no idea certain people would corrupt a young puppy into a raging racist to hurt and kill only black people. That’s the premise of this “forgotten” Sam Fuller 1982 film. White Dog is a gripping, pleasing, intelligent film about the worst deeds on man: racism. It’s an anti-racist movie with a great message and its amazing Paramount didn’t know what to do with it at the time and shelved it until now.

Julie (the adorable Kristy McNichol) one night accidently hits a German shepherd as it crossed the street. Doing what any good natured person would do, she takes it to a near by veterinarian clinic and decides to keep it as no one has claimed it after she put up flyers for the lost dog. After a series of some odd incidents it is concluded that the dog is a white dog, an animal trained to kill black people on sight. A daring animal trainer (Paul Winfield) makes it his mission to break the dog of this thinking.

Keys, the animal trainer, is the heart of the film. Sam Fuller knew how to up tension and suspense in every film and by making Keys a black man determined to train the dog not to be racist adds much power to the film. Even scenes like when the dog is roaming the streets after breaking out of its kennel, there’s one where the dog is sniffing some trash looking for food, as a little black boy plays with his ball. Right when the dog walks away the mom grabs the boy inside, just missing making eye contact. What a terrifying scene without any real narrative purpose. But back to Keys, Winfield is pretty amazing as him and his one scene to shine he does. After he goes looking for he dog after it broke out of the kennel, he stumbles upon it after it murdered a black man in a church. Keys is conflicted. Does he report the murder and essentially ending the dog’s life or does he cover it up and break this dog’s ideology?

Julie wants the dog dead now. Too many people are getting hurt. Keys calls her out. He says this is how people are; let’s sweep racism under the carpet getting rid of it instead of educating those who are. That’s why he must train the dog, even if it’s one small victory; it’s one that could go a long way. It’s a powerful scene. The dog is merely a victim, despite murdering people because of their color. It’s the trainers that were corrupt, forcing some hideous ideology on such an innocent animal. If they can do this to man’s best friend, imagine what they could teach children?

This might not be Sam Fuller’s best film or work with racism, a topic he visited a lot in his career, but it’s an incredibly interesting, moving, thoughtful film filled with some fun dialogue, amazing dog attacks, and enough little horror elements to keep it all in an interesting package. It’s a shame we had to wait 25 years to see it.

 

The DVD:

Audio/Video: The audio is okay, nothing impressive. It’s a decent stereo presentation. Same with the video as Criterion is known for making their films the best looking they can get, so I expect this is the best White Dog will ever look.

Interviews: This 45 minute piece is really good. Criterion interviews Fuller’s wife, Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential) who wrote the screenplay and the film’s producer Jon Davidson as they all remember Sam Fuller, the film, the shooting, and the aftermath of Paramount shelving the project. It’s really informative and a great retrospect.

Interview with Dog Trainer: Using still photos and text, Karl Lewis Miller explains how they got the dogs to do what the script needed them too and working with Fuller. He explains an impossible shot that Fuller wanted and in three takes got. Fuller loved the five dogs that played the White Dog and gave each one a screen credit. Pretty cool extra.

Gallery: Rare photos from the production.

Essays: Criterion always dazzles with their essay books and his is no different. Covering Fuller use of the subject of racism and anti-racism, Fuller interviews the dog, and a look at the film’s meaning is all included.

Conclusion: White Dog is another great Fuller film. Criterion delivers a great disc and extras and now we can see his long forgotten film and see what idiots Paramount were back then. They called it a racist picture. Did they see it? Fuller was never racist. A must see.

Rating: