Canine compatriots: the five greatest dogs in cinema history
For as long as cinema has existed, dogs have been a part of it, but it takes a special kind of canine companion to achieve stardom in their own right.
Four-legged friends are commonplace across film and television, with audiences always wracked with dread whenever one of them ends up in a sticky predicament that presents inherent danger. Not many filmmakers are bold enough to kill off the dog, because there’s almost always going to be an outrage.
Animals may not be considered actors in the strictest sense, but several of them have nonetheless gone on to carve out careers many of their human counterparts would be jealous of despite the obvious limitations that come with a lack of opposable thumbs.
The following five are all true legends of Hollywood, and can proudly take their place in the hall of fame for the medium’s most celebrated mutts.
The best movie dogs:
5. Skippy
It might seem unfair to pinpoint one performance as being the undoubted high point in the career of any actor, but Skippy the terrier was arguably never better than he was in the classic 1934 mystery The Thin Man, where he played Asta the Pooch.
However, that was far from the only titanic ‘Golden Age’ title the canine had on an esteemed filmography, with Skippy also lending support in Howard Hawks’ screwball classic Bringing Up Baby and Cary Grant’s The Awful Truth.
Not many human thespians can lay claim to being a part of three all-time cinematic greats, and yet Skippy managed it despite being a dog. The Thin Man was his showiest role by far, though, with the four-legged favourite using it as a springboard to even more success.
4. Pal
The role may have been recast several times over the decades for obvious reasons, but much like Sean Connery was to James Bond, Pal was to Lassie: the first, the benchmark, and the icon.
The collie headlined the first film in the series and became an instant star when Lassie Comes Home emerged as a critical darling and a box-office sensation. Furthering the franchise analogies, Pal quickly became the family-adventure saga of what Vin Diesel is to Fast & Furious.
The erstwhile figurehead who oversaw numerous extensions of the all-encompassing property he helped build from the ground up, Pal would reprise the role of Lassie in another three features and two made-for-TV specials, as well as moving into a meta supporting part as Laddie in Son of Lassie and embodying the descendant of a character he originated in Elizabeth Taylor’s Courage of Lassie.
3. Terry
It’s not a name that exactly screams ‘movie star’, but Terry found a huge lease of life when she was cast as Toto in timeless fantasy The Wizard of Oz, with a salary of $125 per week making her one of the ensemble’s highest-paid members.
Already a veteran of the silver screen by that point, Terry had plenty of credits under her belt before even walking that yellow brick road, and like a small and hairy Tom Cruise, she also had a penchant for doing her own stunts.
That didn’t quite go to plan when Terry was injured shooting The Wizard of Oz after being stood on, but after recuperating at Judy Garland’s house, she was back and raring to go two weeks later, ready to pull her weight in an industry-shaking production like a true professional.
2. Gromit
Obviously not a real dog but an iconic one nonetheless, it’s hard to argue with Gromit’s credentials when he’s shared top billing in three Academy Award-winning films and another four that were nominated.
Longevity is also a key part of Gromit’s position as a legend in canine cinema, with the Claymation duo debuting in 1989 and remaining as popular as ever, as evidenced by the increasing hype surrounding Netflix’s upcoming Vengeance Most Fowl.
The real brains of the operation despite his cohort being an inventor, Gromit is a master of deadpan comedy and knows his way around an action sequence, too, with The Wrong Trousers‘ train chase one of the best action beats to ever unfold on rails.
1. Rin Tin Tin
Based on nothing but importance and achievements, there’s not a dog in Hollywood history to have left behind a legacy like Rin Tin Tin, who made a mark on the entire industry.
Already a war veteran before he’d even set foot on a movie set, Rin Tin Tin was rescued from the battlefield of World War I by an American soldier, before going on to star in 27 films and becoming a worldwide celebrity.
As well as popularising the German Shepherd as a household pet, the success of Rin Tin Tin’s filmic endeavours were of huge importance to not only fledgling studio Warner Bros. but the career advancement of Darryl F. Zanuck, one of the most important figures in American cinema.
