Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World is a 1973 British children's fantasy-adventure comedy film starring Jim Dale, and directed by Joseph McGrath.[2] A large supporting cast of British movie stalwarts includes Spike Milligan, Angela Douglas, Norman Rossington, Milo O'Shea, Dinsdale Landen and Victor Spinetti.[3] The production included composer Edwin Astley and cinematographer Harry Waxman.[2] The film was based on the 1960 novel The Biggest Dog in the World by Ted Key.[4]
The film starred Fernville Lord Digby in the title role. Digby was then the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog; the company using the breed since 1961 in their advertisements that led to the breed's popularity around the world.[5]
Plot
Accident-prone Jeff works at a NATO research facility as an animal behaviourist. He steals a tiny amount of Project X, but an Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks it. X is a liquid growth formula (a form of experimental fertilizer) and Digby expands to gigantic proportions.
Authorities and scientists scramble to find a way to shrink Digby back to normal size before he causes more destruction. Throughout the film, Digby’s innocent nature and comedic antics make him a charming character despite his colossal size, finally at the end the file his is given an antidote to shrink him back to his normal size.
Cast
- Jim Dale - Jeff Eldon
- Angela Douglas - Janine
- Spike Milligan - Dr. Harz
- John Bluthal - Jerry
- Milo O'Shea - Dr. Jameson
- Norman Rossington - Tom
- 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
- Molly Urquhart - Aunt Ina
- Frank Thornton - Estate Agent
- Victor Maddern - Dog Home Manager
- Sheila Steafel - Control Operator
Notes
- ^ Malcolm, Derek (6 December 1973). "Not-so-cheapskate". The Guardian. p. 14; "Theatres, Cinemas, Art Galleries". The London Daily Telegraph. 6 December 1973. p. 27.
- ^ a b "Digby the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)". Archived from the original on 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973) - Joseph McGrath - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ Gifford, Denis (1 April 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Video: Dulux dog returns to TV screens for first time in a decade". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
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