Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood
| Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Winner |
| Written by | Arnold Schulman Cy Howard |
| Starring | Bruce Dern Madeline Kahn Art Carney Phil Silvers Teri Garr Ron Leibman |
| Cinematography | Richard H. Kline |
| Edited by | Bernard Gribble |
| Music by | Neal Hefti |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.2 million[1] |
Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood is a 1976 American comedy film directed by Michael Winner, and stars Bruce Dern, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr and Art Carney. Spoofing the craze surrounding Rin Tin Tin, the film is notable for the large number of cameo appearances by actors and actresses from Hollywood's golden age[2][3] many of whom had been employees of Paramount Pictures, the film's distributor.
Cast
Starring
- Bruce Dern as Grayson Potchuck
- Madeline Kahn as Estie Del Ruth
- Art Carney as J.J. Fromberg
- Phil Silvers as Murray Fromberg
- Ron Leibman as Rudy Montague
- Teri Garr as Fluffy Peters
- Ronny Graham as Mark Bennett
- Toni Basil as Guest at Awards Ceremony
Larger cameos
- Dorothy Lamour as Visiting Film Star
- Joan Blondell as Landlady
- Virginia Mayo as Miss Battley
- Henny Youngman as Manny Farber
- Rory Calhoun as Phillip Hart
- Aldo Ray as Stubby Stebbins
- Ethel Merman as Hedda Parsons
- Nancy Walker as Mrs. Fromberg
- Rhonda Fleming as Rhoda Flaming
- Dean Stockwell as Paul Lavell
- Dick Haymes as James Crawford
- Tab Hunter as David Hamilton
- Robert Alda as Richard Entwhistle
- Victor Mature as Nick
- Edgar Bergen as Professor Quicksand
- Henry Wilcoxon as Silent Film Director
- Alice Faye as Secretary at Gate
- Yvonne De Carlo as Cleaning Woman
Brief Cameo appearances
- Dennis Morgan as Tour Guide
- Shecky Greene as Tourist
- William Demarest as Studio Gatekeeper
- Billy Barty as Assistant Director
- Ricardo Montalban as Silent Film Star
- Jackie Coogan as Stagehand #1
- Andy Devine as Priest in Dog Pound
- Broderick Crawford as Special Effects Man
- Richard Arlen as Silent Film Star #2
- Jack La Rue as Silent Film Villain
- Gloria DeHaven as President's Girl #1
- Louis Nye as Radio Interviewer
- Johnny Weissmuller as Stagehand #2. This film was Johnny Weissmuller's final film role before he retired from acting in 1976, and died on January 20, 1984.
- Stepin Fetchit as Dancing Butler
- Ken Murray as Souvenir Salesman
- Rudy Vallee as Autograph Hound
- George Jessel as Awards Announcer
- Ann Miller as President's Girl #2
- Eli Mintz as Tailor
- Fritz Feld as Rudy's Butler
- Edward Ashley as Second Butler
- Jane Connell as Waitress
- Janet Blair as President's Girl #3
- Dennis Day as Singing Telegraph Man
- Mike Mazurki as Studio Guard
- The Ritz Brothers as Cleaning Women
- Jesse White as Rudy's Agent
- Carmel Myers as Woman Journalist
- Jack Carter as Male Journalist
- Barbara Nichols as Nick's Girl
- Army Archerd as Premiere MC
- Fernando Lamas as Premiere Male Star
- Zsa Zsa Gabor as Premiere Female Star
- Cyd Charisse as President's Girl #4
- Huntz Hall as Moving Man
- Doodles Weaver as Man in Mexican Film
- Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez as Mexican Projectionist
- Morey Amsterdam as Custard Pie Star #1
- Eddie Foy Jr. as Custard Pie Star #2
- Peter Lawford as Custard Pie Star #3
- Patricia Morison as Star at Screening
- Guy Madison as Star at Screening
- Regis Toomey as Burlesque Stagehand
- Ann Rutherford as Grayson's Studio Secretary
- Milton Berle as Blind Man
- John Carradine as Drunk
- Keye Luke as Cook in Kitchen
- Walter Pidgeon as Grayson's Butler
- Phil Leeds as Dog Catcher #1
- Cliff Norton as Dog Catcher #2
- Sterling Holloway as Old Man on Bus
- William Benedict as Man on Bus
- Dorothy Gulliver as Old Woman on Bus
Production
The film was originally called Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Warner Bros. It was based on the career of Rin Tin Tin. The story was written by Cy Howard in 1971. He hired Arnold Schulmann to write the script. It was developed by David Picker at Warner Bros. He took the script with him when he moved to Paramount, causing the title to be changed. Filming started in August 1975.[4]
References
- ^ SECOND ANNUAL GROSSES GLOSS Byron, Stuart. Film Comment; New York Vol. 13, Iss. 2, (Mar/Apr 1977): 35-37,64.
- ^ The New York Times
- ^ The New York Times
- ^ To Rinny With Love and G Rating Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 27 Aug 1975: e10.
