Olive Films: Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood [1976] (DVD or BLU-RAY)

Set in Hollywood circa 1923, Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood is a light-hearted spoof that tells the tale of a multi-talented mutt who, in the tradition of Rin Tin Tin, wags his way out of the kennel and onto the silver screen thanks to Estie Del Ruth (Madeline Kahn, Paper Moon), a starlet in search of a break, and studio bus driver and would-be director, Grayson Potchuck (Bruce Dern, The Trip). In no time flat, Won Ton Ton becomes the toast of the town and the reigning star of New Era Studios under the watchful eye of studio head J.J. Fromberg (Art Carney, Harry & Tonto). It’s full-throttle comic hijinks when Rudy Montague (Ron Leibman, Zorro: The Gay Blade), Hollywood’s leading matinee idol, is dethroned by the canine star.

Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood features a Who’s Who of stars of yesteryear in cameos including Phil Silvers, Dorothy Lamour, Joan Blondell, Yvonne De Carlo, Jackie Coogan, Stepin Fetchit, Ann Miller, Victor Mature, Fernando Lamas, Cyd Charisse, Ricardo Montalban, Aldo Ray, Andy Devine, Broderick Crawford, Nancy Walker, Gloria De Haven, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Johnny Weissmuller and Huntz Hall.

Directed by Michael Winner (Death Wish), from a screenplay by Arnold Schulman and Cy Howard, Won Ton Ton, The Dog Who Saved Hollywood also features Billy Barty (Foul Play), Shecky Greene (The History of the World: Part I), Dennis Morgan (Christmas in Connecticut), Sterling Holloway (The Jungle Book), William Demarest (The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek) and Henny Youngman (Silent Movie).

 

One for the Dogs, Ha! Seriously a great cast of people... how can you go wrong?

Jeremy [Six Strings]