The Shaggy Dog [DVD] - Classic Family Comedy Movie for Kids & Adults - Perfect for Movie Nights & Family Gatherings

This movie has kids and teens, animals, fun music, a magic ring that changes a person into a dog, spies, fumbling police, mixed up identities, fast cars, action and chase scenes, and a suffering dad who has to take the brunt of his boys antics including an attempt to prove he is crazy by a psychologist. This is an important film as the first live action comedy made by Disney introducing a popular series of formula Disney comedies through the sixties. The best parts of this films formula were mimicked in so many others that Disney made later.It is also the first Disney film to feature Fred MacMurray. This was a comeback vehicle for the actor who was recently languishing without much work since the type of film he was known for was no longer produced. But after this film he was restored as an actor and went on to do many other films for Disney, including the "Absent Minded Professor" and its sequel "Son of Flubber","Bon Voyage", "The Happiest Millionaire", "Charley and the Angel", and "Follow Me Boys".Tommy Kirk (perhaps starred in more Disney films than any other actor) is also in this film as Freds son "Wilby" and the hero, of sorts. After all, he is the one turns into a dog with the accidental help of a magic ring. Juvenile Disney star Moochie (Kevin Corcoran)plays his younger brother, and is outright hilareous with his show stealing antics. The ever charming Annete Funicello is here, along with a couple of other Mouseketeers in bit parts. But mouseketeer Roberta Shore plays the sweet Franceska, the new neighbor that Wilby falls for. Her dog looks just like the dog that Wilby turns into when he is enchanted, so Wilby takes his place to find out how good a dog's life really is. But Wilby soon finds out that her villainous father is a dangerous foreign spy.While it was filmed as a low budget piece, it was very succesful comercially raking in $8 million in its first theatrical release. That was very big in 1959. The movie concept was first offered to a TV network as an idea for a new series, and they gruffly turned it down as "a stupid idea that no one would want to watch". Walt made it anyway, turning it into a theatrical release. When the crowds poured in to the theatre the studio boss called Walt to admit his mistake. Walt laughed all the way to the bank, and created a whole series of low budget comedies movies.A great Disney advertising campaign for the movie capitalized on the then-current fad for "I was a teenage ____" movies. The film starts with some great animated title credits done expertly by veteran Dinsey animators X. Atencio, T. Hee, and Bill Justice. Released in 1959, written and produced by Disney Studio man Bill Walsh. Directed by Charles Barton. Disney veteran Bill Koehler did the animal training with the sheepdog that is used in some scenes as he did on at least half of the Disney films. (read his very rare book "The Wonderful World of Disney Animals" if you can find it.)Look out for Paul Frees in this, he is the narrator and is seen as the psychiatrist (a rare on-screen appearance for the famous voice actor). His voice is featured throughout Disneyland ride attractions, especially in the Haunted Mansion (ghost host)and Pirates of the Caribbean, other Disney films and animation, and Rankin Bass holiday specials.The plot has a touch of 50's paranoia about the cold war, but spoofs it rather than warning of the dangers. Kids just love this film and so do parents and teens. A sequel, "The Shaggy DA", was made after this. This movie was also remade recently for television by Disney with more modern special effects. I highly reccommend!