Dogville Comedies
From 1929 to 1931, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a series of nine short comedy films called All Barkie Dogville Comedies, sometimes known as the "barkies" (in a parody of "talkies").[1] The actors in these films were trained dogs, dressed up to parody the performers in contemporary films. The dogs' dialogue in these early sound films was dubbed by actors and voice artists including Pete Smith.
The films were directed by Zion Myers and conceived and co-directed by Jules White. Both Myers and White later worked on The Three Stooges comedies.
The series is somewhat controversial today due to methods alleged to have been used to get the dogs to pose and to appear to "talk".[1]
Series titles
1929
- Hot Dog
- College Hounds
1930
- So Quiet on the Canine Front
- Who Killed Rover? AKA The Dogville Murder Case[2]
- The Big Dog House
- The Dogway Melody
1931
- Love Tails of Morocco
- Two Barks Brothers
- Trader Hound
Home video
The complete series of Dogville Comedies has been released on DVD by Warner Bros.
References
- ^ a b "Movieland Goes Roman", Performing and Captive Animals' Defence League circular, 1931
- ^ http://www.wbshop.com/Dogville-Shorts-+EST-MOD/1000114157,default,pd.html?cgid=