WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD [1976 / 2017] [Blu-ray] [USA Release]
Introducing The Dog That Launched a 1000 Stars and a 1000 Laughs!
Set in Hollywood circa 1923, ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ is a light-hearted spoof that tells the tale of a multi-talented mutt who, in the tradition of Rin Tin Tin, wags his way out of the kennel and onto the silver screen thanks to Estie Del Ruth [Madeline Kahn], a starlet in search of a break, and studio bus driver and would-be director, Grayson Potchuck [Bruce Dern]. In no time flat, Won Ton Ton becomes the toast of the town and the reigning star of New Era Studios under the watchful eye of studio head J.J. Fromberg [Art Carney]. It’s full-throttle comic hijinks when Rudy Montague [Ron Leibman], the studio’s leading matinee idol, is dethroned by the canine star!
‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ features a Who’s who of stars of yesteryear in cameos including Jackie Coogan, Ricardo Montalban, Aldo Ray, Yvonne De Carlo, Joan Blondell, Andy Devine, Broderick Crawford, Dorothy Lamour, Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, Gloria De Haven, Johnny Weissmuller, Stepin Fetchit, Ann Miller, Victor Mature, Fernando Lamas, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Cyd Charisse and Huntz Hall.
Directed by Michael Winner from a Screenplay by Arnold Schulman and Cy Howard, and ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ also features Dennis Morgan, Shecky Greene, Sterling Holloway, William Demarest, Henny Youngman and Billy Barty.
FILM FACT: The film was originally called ‘Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Warner Bros.’ It was based on the career of the hound Rin Tin Tin. The story was written by Cy Howard in 1971 and hired Arnold Schulmann to write the screenplay. It was developed by David Picker at Warner Bros. who took the script with him when he moved to Paramount Pictures, causing the title to be changed. Filming started in August 1975.
Cast: Dennis Morgan, Shecky Greene, Phil Leeds, Cliff Norton, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Romo Vincent, Bruce Dern, Sterling Holloway, William 'Billy' Benedict, Dorothy Gulliver, William Demarest, Art Carney, Virginia Mayo, Henny Youngman, Rory Calhoun, Billy Barty, Henry Wilcoxon, Ricardo Montalban, Jackie Coogan, Aldo Ray, Ethel Merman, Yvonne De Carlo, Joan Blondell, Andy Devine, Broderick Crawford, Richard Arlen, Jack La Rue, Dorothy Lamour, Phil Silvers, Nancy Walker, Gloria DeHaven, Louis Nye, Johnny Weissmuller, Stepin Fetchit, Ken Murray, Rudy Vallee, George Jessel, Rhonda Fleming, Ann Miller, Dean Stockwell, Dick Haymes, Tab Hunter, Robert Alda, Eli Mintz, Ron Leibman, Fritz Feld, Edward Ashley, Kres Mersky, Jane Connell, Janet Blair, Dennis Day, Mike Mazurki, The Ritz Brothers, Jesse White, Carmel Myers, Jack Carter, Jack Bernardi, Victor Mature, Barbara Nichols, Army Archerd, Fernando Lamas, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Cyd Charisse, Huntz Hall, Doodles Weaver, Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales, Edward Le Veque, Edgar Bergen, Ronny Graham, Morey Amsterdam, Eddie Foy Jr., Peter Lawford, Patricia Morison, Guy Madison, Regis Toomey, Alice Faye, Ann Rutherford, Milton Berle, James E. Brodhead, John Carradine, Keye Luke, Walter Pidgeon, Augustus von Schumacher [Won Ton Ton the Dog], Don Ames (uncredited), Gary Bankel (uncredited), Toni Basil (uncredited), Leon Belasco (uncredited), Jack Berle (uncredited), Robert Buckingham (uncredited), Donald Chaffin (uncredited), Peter Eastman (uncredited), Morgan Farley (uncredited), Douglas Fowley (uncredited), Larry Gelman (uncredited), Brian Gusse (uncredited), Bob Harks (uncredited), Robert Hitchcock (uncredited), George Hoagland (uncredited), George Holmes (uncredited), Tom Pedi (uncredited), Harry Ritz (uncredited), Jimmy Ritz (uncredited), Benny Rubin (uncredited), Bob Templeton (uncredited), Marty Thomas (uncredited) and Arthur Tovey (uncredited)
Director: Michael Winner
Producers: Arnold Schulman, David V. Picker, Michael Winner and Tim Zinnemann
Screenplay: Arnold Schulman, Cy Howard and Jane Wagner (additional writing) (uncredited)
Composer: Neal Hefti
Cinematography: Richard H. Kline, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 91 minutes
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures / Olive Films
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ [1976] is set in Hollywood circa 1923, and is a light-hearted spoof that tells the tale of a multi-talented mutt who, in the tradition of Rin Tin Tin, wags his way out of the kennel and onto the silver screen thanks to Estie Del Ruth [Madeline Kahn], a starlet in search of a break, and studio bus driver and would-be director, Grayson Potchuck [Bruce Dern]. In no time flat, Won Ton Ton becomes the toast of the town and the reigning star of New Era Studios under the watchful eye of studio head J.J. Fromberg [Art Carney]. It is full-throttle comic hijinks when Rudy Montague [Ron Leibman], Hollywood’s leading matinee idol, is dethroned by the canine star.
If there is anyone out there who remembers Rin Tin Tin, well if you do, then you will recall the heroic German shepherd as one of the biggest stars of the silent film era. Even if you do know of the pooch, you may still have a tough time recalling the film ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD,’ which was a film that spoofs the world of canine celebrity and especially the world of filmmaking. This title has never been particularly easy to come by, but all that has changed with the release of the Olive Films Blu-ray release.
Opening in the present, which would be around 1975 and we are in the present at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater tour guide, who relates to his patrons how the lead animal played an important role in the industry back in the 1920s who relates the tale of a poor German Shepherd who finds fame after befriending an aspiring actress Estie Del Ruth [Madeline Kahn] who rescues German Shepherd from a nasty character on a Hollywood backlot it doesn’t do much for her career, but it does propel Won Ton Ton to stardom and a movie contract with studio head J.J. Fromberg [Art Carney].
Bruce Dern plays Grayson Potchuck, who is one of many bizarre, ostensibly whimsical character names in the film, where we find that he is a tour bus driver who aspires to direct films. Grayson Potchuck eventually joins forces with Estie Del Ruth and studio chief J.J. Fromberg [Art Carney], and they all produce a series of films starring Won Ton Ton. From that point onwards, the film simply follows a series of hapless ups and downs in the film career of Won Ton Ton the German Shepherd dog.
‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ features a Who’s Who of stars of yesteryear in cameos including Phil Silvers, Dorothy Lamour, Joan Blondell, Yvonne De Carlo, Jackie Coogan, Stepin Fetchit, Ann Miller, Victor Mature, Fernando Lamas, Cyd Charisse, Ricardo Montalban, Aldo Ray, Andy Devine, Broderick Crawford, Nancy Walker, Gloria De Haven, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Johnny Weissmuller and Huntz Hall, to name but a few. This is one of the few times when I’ll use the phrase “it’s a veritable who’s who,” because this film is of courser a veritable who’s who of faded Hollywood glory. Indeed, its chief pleasure and only time is spotting aged actors who, by 1976, inevitably looked sort of similar but mostly different to the way they'd looked at the time of their renown.
The film tries to recapture the feel of early 20th century cinema. It has a lot of slapstick comedy, as well as a light, freewheeling tone. The story, which was loosely inspired by real-life canine celeb Rin Tin Tin, isn't very tightly constructed, though They try to tell the story of how the dog's rise to stardom saves the studio, while also giving time to Grayson Potchuck 's career ambitions and Estie Del Ruth's frustration over not being able to find acting work.
Directed by Michael Winner, ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ is from a screenplay by Arnold Schulman and Cy Howard who wanted to cram in so many old-Hollywood ideas and stars that it causes the plot to lose the focus sadly. The film also features Billy Barty, Shecky Greene, Dennis Morgan, Sterling Holloway, William Demarest, Henny Youngman and many more to name but a few.
The reason one should definitely view this film is to revel in its celebration of the earliest days of motion pictures. It may not be a “good” movie per se, but it is absolutely a fascinating time-capsule work. Seeing how cinema of the 1920’s was honoured in the 1970’s will hold some appeal for anyone with even a remote scholarly interest in the history of the art form. You also get a typically sterling comedic performance from the late, great Madeline Kahn, plus the fun of seeing so many members of the silver screen's old guard pop up. You'll see some of your favourite film stars of all time singing and dancing and getting big laughs. Plus, Won Ton Ton is THE dog who saved Hollywood, and he's sure to be the dog that steals your heart and of course is the ultimate STAR of the film!
WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD MUSIC TRACK LIST
PARAMOUNT ON PARADE (Written by Jack King and Elsie Janis)
LOVE THEME (Written by Nino Rota) (from ‘The Godfather’) (1972)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill)
DAGGER-DANCE (Written by Victor Herbert) (from Natoma opera)
* * * * *
Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Pictures and Olive Films has once again delivered a sort standard 1080p encoded image, plus a 1.85:1 aspect ratio that I am always pleased with the visual quality of the releases that Olive Films puts out; and the film ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ is no exception. Being able to maintain the original feel of the film from this era, you can definitely tell that the people at Olive Films for this Blu-ray release, really put in a lot of effort in making this release happen. Here you experience a decent array of a pallet of colours, but also an array that’s not necessarily vivid as the film keeps that older, yet gritty presentation feeling. The picture quality of this film is very crisp, very clear, and to visually see everything as the story progresses. So with that, I have absolutely no complaints about this Blu-ray release.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures and Olive Films ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ comes packaged with only a 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track. But most of all, it has been cleanly presented for this film and the dialogue has been presented also very well, as well with all the explosions and car crashes. So overall it is quite a decent soundtrack and the best we will ever get to experience and maybe in some far off distance future Paramount Pictures might decide to reissue this Blu-ray with an upgraded audio track to 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, so in the meantime this is the best audio experience we will ever get to hear.
* * * * *
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras: Sadly, once again Olive Films has decided not to provide any extras, which I am sure there are some hidden gems stashed away in Paramount Pictures vaults; obviously someone did not do their homework thoroughly.
Finally, ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD’ is a film that is full of references to silent film and Golden Hollywood era, and at the same time working in a few modern cinema jokes along the way. And I can honestly say I’ve never seen so many cameos in a feature film before. There are so many that it takes the opening credits nearly a minute or so to list them all. It is totally good fun to see familiar faces pass by and pick them out of the crowd, but sometimes the cameos appear to stand in for actual jokes. Of course, like many other titles of its age, there are a few politically incorrect jokes and stereotypes that just don’t play today. At least there are a few moments here and there that do hit the mark. Madeline Kahn and Bruce Dern are clearly giving it their all and eke out a laugh or two. The absurdity of the melodramatic scenarios played out with a dog is when the film is at its most humorous and effective. This film definitely has its followers and one can understand why. The various cameos and eccentricity of the concept make it an interesting curio, even if the final product has its fair share of flaws. For me personally, it was great to catch up with the film I had not seen in a very long time and the Blu-ray debut is certainly as much of an upgrade on a feature as one could hope for, with a generally stronger image than on previous releases, especially with the release of the inferior DVD release. Fans of the film will be very happy with this high definition upgrade of the film ‘WON TON TON: THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD.’ Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
