dog film dog american dramatic film based novel dog written starring film blends short stories featured novel heroic winning rigged dog saving handicapped girl snake capturing killed pups injured owners purchased film rights novel acquired film rights novels late wife initially selected film director continually refused sentimental type dog story replaced wrote screenplay film adapting short stories novel create single narrative adding purpose villain film released june studio hoped successful followed second film television series praised fans modern reviewers contemporary critiques felt work translate film considered low budget movie released home video plot rough owners stephen peter visited wealthy neighbor connor year old daughter angela crippled befriends girl invites prize winning upcoming dog jealous success rigged event specialized rules believes recently purchased high priced english trained win competition involves directing dogs tricky set maneuvers able complete course champion recognize hand signals makes holding cigar later saves daughter angela poisonous snake knocking backwards harm way fighting killing snake getting process nurse initially snake begins beating attacking little girl distraught angela stands walks time illness stop nurse abuse friend disappears days covered mud cured poison return bred prize winning lady male named angela allowed choice present old leave mother chooses fought chased property sets fire barn vengeance elizabeth injured killed wolf later aids capturing white breaks house try steal gold trophy dog angela initially loss refuses wolf nearly lost accident changes mind accepts wolf new dog production purchased film rights dog publisher later sold rights studio learned novels adventures concerned learn rights novel hoping film successful develop sequel possibly television series executive negotiated film rights novels late wife author set foundation inc negotiate rights novels told warner paid rights books bulk funds went initially hired talented aggressive young film editor known avant garde tendencies direct film studio wanted sentimental dog story played true novel opposed life interview stated wanted kind pop camp thing wouldn complete ordeal parents involved production wanted dick jane head studio eventually fired bringing conventional complete film cast owners renamed stephen veteran actor connor hired play newly wealthy role daughter played noted young actress starred thomas cast role talent search conducted eventually resulting selection credited simply film set modified version place reduced river large dock house similar real home including stone lions built scale times larger original known screenwriter newcomer hired adapt novel film combined stories novel modifying characters create single flowing narrative example crippled girl neighbor girl original novel daughter frequent disdain named film villain play nickname refer people white catch villain film deer sets fire barn break house try steal gold trophy won dog released theaters june minute film released vhs format january reception film considered movie low production budget biographer praised connor performance feeling talent human person dignity love versus exaggerated silly character felt setting cinematography typical hollywood found sentimental writing film form calling resulting film minor film noted fans novels thoroughly enjoy film handsome found play titular role seeing names beloved knew screen new_york_times reviewer called drama merit monthly film bulletin praised dog actors felt film touch supposed humor contributed allegedly english considered earnest acted story felt genuine adaptation novel
Lad, A Dog (film)