Movie Menagerie
December 17th 2007 18:33
They don’t earn millions, they don’t make Oscar speeches, they don’t have run-ins with paparazzi, and their mating rituals aren’t reported in every magazine – and yet they are the ones that often steal the show. Below are some of the films where creatures have leant their animal magnetism to make the fans go wild.
Babe
Was there ever a cuter piglet than he?
Also: Charlotte’s Web (2006).
Doctor Dolittle
Rex Harrison is the perfect eccentric, but it’s the many animals he talks to who make this film so wonderful.
Also: Dr Dolittle and the Tarzan films.
Black Beauty
It’ll never beat the book, but it’s hard to pass up Sean Bean.
Also: Seabiscuit and The Horse Whisperer.
Stuart Little
I don’t like the mouse, I don’t like the kid – I only like Hugh Laurie and that naughty, fluffy cat.
Born Free
The beautiful but heart-wrenching true story of Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub, raised by human parents.
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
It started out at a Japanese film, but was Westernised to the sound of Dudley Moore. Whatever its origins, it’s still about the sweetest animal tale around.
Also: Lassie, Old Yeller, Beethoven and 101 Dalmatians.
Whale Rider
Incredibly moving Maori film which covers a lot of themes and explores the magic of the right whales.
Also: Free Willy and Flipper (1963 and 1996)
Special mention goes to these most famous film critters:
Orangey – the cat who starred in Rhubarb, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Diary of Anne Frank, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more.
Higgins – the dog who starred in Petticoat Junction, Mooch Goes to Hollywood, and the Benji films.
Pal and his descendants – the dogs who have played Lassie, and Lassie’s descendants, in Lassie productions for film and television.
Cheeta – the chimpanzee who starred in the Tarzan films, Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, and Doctor Dolittle. Cheeta celebrated his 75th birthday this year.
And to Frank Inn, who won over forty Picture Animal Top Star of the Year (PATSY) Awards, with the animals he took in and trained, because he couldn’t stand the thought of them suffering or being needlessly put down.
Michaelie Clark
Babe
Was there ever a cuter piglet than he?
Babe and his 'mother'. Image courtesy of dreamagic.com
Doctor Dolittle
Rex Harrison is the perfect eccentric, but it’s the many animals he talks to who make this film so wonderful.
Doctor Dolittle with the Pushme-Pullyu. Image courtesy of imdb.com
Also: Dr Dolittle and the Tarzan films.
Black Beauty
It’ll never beat the book, but it’s hard to pass up Sean Bean.
Sean Bean and Black Beauty - Image courtesy of fullofbeans.net
Stuart Little
I don’t like the mouse, I don’t like the kid – I only like Hugh Laurie and that naughty, fluffy cat.
That wicked cat - Image courtesy of thecia.com.au
Born Free
The beautiful but heart-wrenching true story of Elsa, an orphaned lioness cub, raised by human parents.
Elsa doing what cats do - Image courtesy of answers.com
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
It started out at a Japanese film, but was Westernised to the sound of Dudley Moore. Whatever its origins, it’s still about the sweetest animal tale around.
Milo and Otis - Image courtesy of idolator.com
Also: Lassie, Old Yeller, Beethoven and 101 Dalmatians.
Whale Rider
Incredibly moving Maori film which covers a lot of themes and explores the magic of the right whales.
Whale Rider - Image courtesy of cqcn.com
Also: Free Willy and Flipper (1963 and 1996)
Special mention goes to these most famous film critters:
Orangey – the cat who starred in Rhubarb, The Incredible Shrinking Man, The Diary of Anne Frank, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more.
Orangey with Audrey Hepburn - Image courtesy of answers.com
Higgins – the dog who starred in Petticoat Junction, Mooch Goes to Hollywood, and the Benji films.
Pal and his descendants – the dogs who have played Lassie, and Lassie’s descendants, in Lassie productions for film and television.
Cheeta – the chimpanzee who starred in the Tarzan films, Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, and Doctor Dolittle. Cheeta celebrated his 75th birthday this year.
Cheeta at his birthday party - Image courtesy of theage.com.au
And to Frank Inn, who won over forty Picture Animal Top Star of the Year (PATSY) Awards, with the animals he took in and trained, because he couldn’t stand the thought of them suffering or being needlessly put down.
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
As you know Michaelie, I LOVE animals, I think you'll find their owners do quite nicely.
katyzzz
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Ah what cuties. I don`t really like to see animals being made to turn tricks for our entertainment, but they are cuties.
hhhhhmmmm I did not know that! What a good person huh?
Born Free was one of my favourite movies as a kid. And Jock of the Bushveld. Flipper would have also had to be one of my favourite shows - imagine having your own dolphin buddy? How cool would that be?!
Great post - cheers to our furry friends
Ash
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
I'd also like to make special mention to the Orangutan in Every Which Way But Loose, Benji, Francis the Talking Mule and Hooch from Turner & Hooch.
Perhaps you should look at favourite cartoon animals next?
Cheers
MNG
Comment by Aimzster
Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Lol. Perish the thought indeed - not the piggy.
Yes, I would say they do, though Cheeta paints, and the paintings are sold to raise money for a monkey charity.
Michaelie
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
I love all the movies mentioned -- especially the ones with dogs. Another one to add, 'Homeward Bound'...sucha touching story...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yeah, I don't like that either, though that's probably what pets do anyway!
The laws were changed to protect animals, and the PATSY award was created to honor them, after a horse was killed on a film set in the 1930's. Frank Inn took in thousands of animals and cared for them - even though most of them weren't 'actors'.
I think our 'family' cat, David, would like to be a performer - he's such a showoff!
Thanks Ash
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Clyde was the best thing about Every Which Way But Loose - even better than Clint!
Yeah, I was going to do mechanical and cartoon animals in this post but there were too damn many! Maybe I will make a second one... It'll save me from thinking of something else - there's enough on my mind right now!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
When he tries to sing - it's so sad but so very sweet!
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Yeah, the dogs are always favourites - and I suppose they would be easier to train too, certainly easier than cats, or two headed llamas! Lol.
I've yet to see Homeward Bound, but it seems there is plenty of animal magic in that one too!
Michaelie
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Great idea for a post. I loved Black Beauty and the rabbits in Watership Down although that film makes me cry.
Byeee
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Black Beauty was one of the first novels I read as a child so that story is very special for me... as is Sean Bean. Lol.
I knew you were a fan of Watership Down - I can't remember if I've seen it or not. I'll have to hire it and see, though if it makes you cry it'll probably make me cry too. I know we both cry at Edward Scissorhands, even though we love it.
:'(
Thanks again!
Michaelie
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm not emotionally mature enough to deal with half the films on the list.
I have seen them but I just get to upset and cry like a baby with animal films.... I even lost it in Dot and the Kangaroo...Old yeller and Born Free scarred me for life...can't even listen to Old Shep by Elvis or Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Paul and Mary without going for the tissues.,
the most tragic film has to be Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Bear...a trauma every time I remember it.
Funnily enough though when I watched Babe all I could think is how good he would look on my dinner plate with apple sauce. (Hated it)
I do love Cheetah from the Johnny Weismuller Tarzan films and Clyde in Every Which Way but loose..
I do wish we saw Indiana the dog in Indiana Jones too.
A few screen animals I did dig off the top of my head:
Does Chewbacca count?
Dogs
Nanook the husky in Lost Boys
The German Shepard in Bad Moon
Charlie Bronson's hound in Death Hunt
Ed Nortons mutt in 25th Hour
The Rest
The Black Stallion in Francis Ford Coppolla's The Black Stallion
Viggo's horse in Lord of the Rings
Atrayu the horse in The Never Ending Story
Long John Silvers parrot in the original Disney Treasure Island
Bruce the shark in Jaws
Orca the Killer Whale in Orca (That movie still makes me weep)
The two lions in Ghosts in the Darkness
The Black Panther in Beastmaster
The Camel that spits on Arnold in Conan the Barbarian
Obviously I dig the wonders of natures wildlife kingdom.
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I am flummoxed at what a good memory you have, that you remembered that Watership Down makes me cry. If you do hire it, let me know how you go with it
And yes, Edward Scissorhands always makes me cry,we would be a blubbering duo if we saw that together wouldn't we? I think it also makes me cry because I can't console Johnny, I know he would feel better in my arms....
Tracy
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
I have the book but didn't realise there was a movie of Dot and the Kangaroo... and can't believe you blubber over it. Lol. You duffer.
Chewbacca nearly counts... but then so do a lot of human actors.
The Black was a beautiful horse. I was going to include the shark from Jaws but I wasn't sure how much was real and how much was mechanical. RE: the camel - my hero.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
And yes, not being able to console that sweet, sweet man could well be a big part of our distress. I wouldn't really care if he snipped me to bits in the process!
Michaelie
Comment by What's Your Story?
What's Your Story?
So You're Getting Married
How about Toto?
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Krystal
feelings
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I've never seen Lassie or Old Yellow or any of those. No sad movies for me thanks!!!
But I love a good comedy one. I really loved Milo and Otis. I also loved Homeward Bound. The dogs and the cat in that one were really good too!
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Milo and Otis will always be a fave of mine. Such mischievous little mites!
Thanks
Michaelie
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
You've got me too, and I love them all ... and seen most of them too... I'd like to add King Kong, he was a real sweetie... as was Russell Crowe in the Silver Brumby.
Cats and Dogs was great too, with the Beagle and Mr Tinkles.
Gosh I think we've seen them all...
GREAT POST!
Lilla ...
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Great additions, and Russell Crowe himself could be added I think - he is a bit of a beast!
Michaelie
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Comment by AmyHuang
Sydney Table
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
There was one a while ago, 'Cats & Dogs' I think? About how when humans leave the house the cats and dogs have an under ground headquarters with super technical weapons against each other .... I liked that
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Thanks,
Michaelie