Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Joseph McGrath

Writers:

Charles Isaacs (story)
Ted Key (novel)

Release Date:

May 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Comedy

Tagline:

Go ahead...YOU tell him to "Fetch."

Plot:

Digby consumes a bowl of Project X, a liquid growth formula. Soon, he becomes a sheepdog of gigantic size! |

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Kids And Family | Based On Novel | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Jim Dale	...	Jeff Eldon
Spike Milligan	...	Dr. Harz
Angela Douglas	...	Janine
John Bluthal	...	Jerry
Norman Rossington	...	Tom
Milo O'Shea	...	Dr. Jameson
Richard Beaumont	...	Billy White
Dinsdale Landen	...	Colonel Masters
Garfield Morgan	...	Rogerson
Victor Spinetti	...	Professor Ribart
Harry Towb	...	Ringmaster
Kenneth J. Warren	...	General Frank
Bob Todd	...	The Great Manzini
Margaret Stuart	...	Assistant
Molly Urquhart	...	Aunt Ina

Runtime:

USA:88 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Walter Shenson Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "EastEnders: (2004-10-25)" (2004)

One Monster Film to Love

Digby is a dog that accidentally is fed with some plant growth boosting chemicals developed by the British military to be used on interplanetary cruises, and about the young boy, Bill, who owns Digby.

Digby is given to Bill by a friendly vet, but as Bill's grand-dad doesn't like to have an Old English sheepdog in his house, Bill is forced to give him away. He gives anonymously Digby to a guy who works in a defence lab, that makes experiments with animals and plants for coming space travel. A growth-boosting chemical is made in the lab, and the animal trainer steals some to boost his own tomato crop. Accidentally the dog is fed some, and as a result is growing all the time, eventually he's the size of an ocean liner.

As weird animals are attractions Digby is stolen by two well-dressed (mafia-style) hoods and sold to a circus, from which Digby escapes, hunted by the military, both army and air force!

The tone of the film is friendly, where all the evil guys are bumbling fools - the British Army lads, as well the Mafioso, and everyone is polite and no swearing! Typical for a family film, I guess!

That it keeps its pace, without much of a plot, and that the trick filming usually is pretty good (outstanding for its time, I'd say - most of it), and that it makes you laugh is worth much in my book - that it is 100% 70's (music, dressing, hairstyle, et cetera) makes it very, very camp!

A good family film with a lot of slapstick scenes! A perfect feel-good film!

Compared to Stuart Little 1 it wins hands down!

Available on DVD, by the way!