Beethoven (1992)

Director:

Brian Levant

Writers:

John Hughes (written by) and
Amy Holden Jones (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

He'll grow on you.

Plot:

A slobbering St Bernard dog becomes the center of attention for a loving family but its vet secretly wants to kill him.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Animal | Veterinarian | Fairy Tale | Pajamas

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Charles Grodin	...	George Newton
Bonnie Hunt	...	Alice Newton
Dean Jones	...	Herman Varnick, D.V.M.
Oliver Platt	...	Harvey
Stanley Tucci	...	Vernon
Nicholle Tom	...	Ryce Newton
Christopher Castile	...	Ted Newton
Sarah Rose Karr	...	Emily Newton
David Duchovny	...	Brad
Patricia Heaton	...	Brie
Robi Davidson	...	Mark
Laurel Cronin	...	Devonia Pest
O-Lan Jones	...	Biker Woman
Nancy Fish	...	Miss Grundel
Craig Pinkard	...	Homeless Man

Also Known As:

Beethoven: Story of a Dog (Australia) (cable TV title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8/5 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Brian Levant took over as director just after the start of filming, replacing Steve Rash.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene after Beethoven "attacks" the vet, Dad goes into the backyard and gets Beethoven to take him to the vet's office, the dog's neck and snout are mysteriously clean even though only moments earlier they were smeared with fake blood.

Quotes:

Ted Newton: Do you have any kids?
Brie: We have a career.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Sopranos: In Camelot (#5.7)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Lady Marmelade

The Good & Bad Of 'Beethoven'

This was almost like an old-fashioned type of nice movie "the whole family will enjoy," as the stupid trailers used to always say. They aren't always right about that, but they are with this one.

BAD NEWS - The "bad news" was (a) the silly ending, (b) some silly-stupid scenes earlier in which what you saw could never really happen, and (c) the three kids were annoying and bossy at times.

GOOD NEWS - The "good news" is, of course, "Beethoven," the lovable Saint Bernard who is a lot of fun to watch, especially with all his facial expressions. Also, it's a very entertaining story and there is absolutely nothing offensive, language-wise, in here.

OVERALL - This was popular enough to spawn some sequels, none of which were close in caliber to this one. A good family film worth viewing, but mainly if you like big, lovable dogs.