Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)

Director:

Joseph McGrath

Writers:

Charles Isaacs (story)
Ted Key (novel)

Release Date:

May 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Comedy

Tagline:

The Biggest Howl Ever Unleashed!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Based On Novel | Independent Film | Kids And Family | 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)

A cult classic for the whole family??? DOG-gone right!

DIGBY is not exactly another doggie movie, but it's so out of sync that it just might work for a few cult movie crowds. So far, not many can top the KILLER TOMATOES for the most successful example of a movie that lives without a plot. This one comes very, very close! So close that even the humongous Digby gets lost in the focus throughout most of the time!

The comedy relief is quite groovy, but has that special charm to make this a nearly appropriate "family" outing....EXCEPT for a couple of parts that aren't up to "G" standards, including the prescence of a bunny girl! (Yes, a bunny girl!) If all of that sounds groovy, then it wouldn't matter so much to enjoy this warped-out experience made to step out of the Kids & Family TV program! The nonsense is way out cracked, and laughable enough to actually make the kids feel safely entertained. Then the hippies who have seen this at the theater will have called this "groovy!".

Oh, did I forget to mention Digby? After all, he became "the biggest dog in the world"! It's downright funny to watch a sheepdog tear up the screen of giant-sized proportions. The visuals look fairly clean on occasion, and other times, they're tacky. I bet the smaller kids would be thrilled by the fascination of things, but whoever wrote the script to this children's film (which was based on a book, by the way) was probably fired from the very beginning. Or maybe the director, having let the cops chase a speeding car? But when all is said and done, the senseless laughter is worth the price of admission.

Now if you're a fan with desire over rare movies, I've supplied the IMDb handfuls of commentaries on these which probably had short runs in the theater. DIGBY is a special choice to make for your collection, and a commonly overlooked one. And by golly, rent it if you have to! I just hope your kids will accept the pain and agony they'll get out of this wacko comedy. The family-friendly 70s has never been this groovy!