Digby, the
Biggest Dog
in the World

(1973, U.K.) color 89 minutes
City Investing Films Presents
a Walter Shenson Film Production
Distributed by Cinerama Releasing
Corporation / 20th Century Fox
Filmed at EMI MGM Elstree Studios, England
Story: Charles Isaacs
Story: Ted Key (from his novel, "Hazel")
Screenplay: Michael Pertwee
Music by Edwin T. Astley
Theme song performed by Louisa Jane White
Cinematography by Harry Waxman
Special Effects by Tom Howard
Produced by Leon Becker, Irwin Margulies, Walter Shenson
Directed by Joseph McGrath

With: 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)

***

Plot Outline: An English sheepdog named Digby mistakenly consumes a chemical agent meant for military use, which causes super-size growth, and ultimately results in the dog’s adventurous escapades with two burglars, a performance at an English circus, close calls with a train and the Concorde jet, as well as a final showdown with the British Army and Royal Air Force. Digby receives the antidote for shrinkage just in the nick of time!

***

Entertaining from start to finish, DIGBY, THE BIGGEST DOG IN THE WORLD, is a classic Kiddie Matinee film. Producer Walter Shenson, known for financing the Beatles’ initial two films, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and HELP!, assembled an award-winning cast and noted director for this movie version of Ted Key’s book.

The film begins with Billy White, played by Richard Beaumont, getting an English sheepdog at the local animal pound with a little help from the owner. Then, the movie segues to the NATO Research Centre in the English countryside where animal psychiatrist Jeff Eldon (who looks like a member of the 1960's and 1970's English pop group The Hollies), played by Jim Dale, works with a chimpanzee, and Billy’s mother, Janine White, portrayed by Angela Douglas, serves as a researcher at the military facility. A U.S. Army general then arrives at the center to ask how "Project X" is going.

This so-called chemical enlarges things, and is being kept under lock and key until Jeff takes some home to help his roses grow, but somehow it mistakenly ends up in Digby’s mouth. The canine has not been welcomed at the White household, and since Janine knows Jeff loves animals, she has Billy leave the dog at the animal psychiatrist’s home. Jeff immediately takes to Digby, and shortly thereafter, while Janine stops by for a visit, she gives Digby a bowl of milk mixed with a little "Project X," which was intended for Jeff’s rosebushes.

The next day, Digby begins his super-size growth, but Jeff has to deal with other distractions, such as a nosy German neighbor, Dr. Herz, who also is a researcher at the NATO Center, and two burglars who hide in his (Jeff’s) home. Legendary British Comedian Spike Milligan plays Dr. Herz in a similar manner to the character Dr. Strangelove, portrayed by another famous Englishman, Peter Sellers, in the film of the same name. In addition, one of the robbers who hides in Jeff’s home is played by Norman Rossington who acted as the Beatles’ manager in A Hard Day’s Night.

Dr. Herz believes Jeff has gone to the dogs with his behavior over Digby’s growth, but the burglars see the English sheepdog as a moneymaker. Jeff plots to take Digby to his Aunt Ina’s home for safekeeping, and in doing so, he disguises the giant dog as a horse. This identity change, however, does not fool the burglars, who follow Jeff to a roadside café and the horse trailer switcheroo is made. Jeff ends up at Aunt Ina’s with a real horse, and Digby joins the circus courtesy of two thieves!

While watching the telly, Jeff and Billy hear of the super-sized Digby’s circus premiere, and both end up under the big top. Jeff becomes a clown who serves as the foil for a blind knife thrower, and Billy patiently sits in the audience until Digby breaks free of his chains.

Meanwhile, at the NATO facility, Dr. Herz and the others realize that some of "Project X" has gone missing, and seek to find Jeff. Janine, on the other hand, worries of Billy’s whereabouts. Digby, however, strolls the beautiful English countryside encountering a train, as well as a supersonic Concorde jet, and just barely misses disastrous scenarios with both modes of transport.

Jeff and Billy finally catch up with Digby in a ravine, and the film’s climax begins. Jeff has Billy stay with the overgrown canine, and he heads back to the military research center to find the antidote to shrink Digby. He successfully does so, but the British Army is right behind him. The showdown is complete as the troops surround Jeff, Billy, and Digby. Billy gives the canine the liquid, and then suddenly, they open fire on Digby, and the Royal Air Force swoops down to finish the job. Jeff and Billy escape, and so does Digby! The antidote worked, and the shrunken dog provides plenty of love licks for Jeff and Billy.

***

Jim Dale (Jeff Eldon) has recorded all six audiobooks in the "Harry Potter" series, receiving a Grammy Award in 2000, as well as three Grammy nominations. He earned an Academy Award for writing the lyrics to the 1967 British film GEORGY GIRL (a music hit for the Australian pop group The Seekers that same year), and has also authored songs for such films as SHALAKO, A WINTER'S TALE, TWINKY and JOSEPH ANDREWS. He has also appeared in numerous films and plays, and won a Tony Award in 1981 for his title role in the Cy Coleman musical "Barnum".

Spike Milligan (Dr. Herz) also teamed with famous British comedian Peter Sellers in "The Goon Show", a popular British comedy television show broadcast on the BBC in the late 1950's.

Victor Spinneti, who played a chemist at the NATO Research Center, appeared in the Beatles’ films, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT and MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR.

Director Joseph McGrath served as one of the four directors of the James Bond spoof film, CASINO ROYALE (1967), and directed Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers in THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN (1969).

- Michael P. Kleiman

Video/DVD availability: VHS (Prism, OOP)