Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World is a 1973 British children's fantasy-adventure comedy film starring Jim Dale, and directed by Joseph McGrath.[2] A large supporting cast of British movie stalwarts includes Spike Milligan, Angela Douglas, Norman Rossington, Milo O'Shea, Dinsdale Landen and Victor Spinetti.[3] The production included composer Edwin Astley and cinematographer Harry Waxman.[2] The film was based on the 1960 novel The Biggest Dog in the World by Ted Key.[4]
| Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Joseph McGrath |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | Walter Shenson |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Ted Key |
| Cinematography | Harry Waxman |
| Edited by | Jim Connock |
| Music by | Edwin Astley |
Production company | Walter Shenson Films |
| Distributed by | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 88 min |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
The film starred Fernville Lord Digby in the title role. Digby was then the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog; the company using the breed since 1961 in their advertisements that led to the breed's popularity around the world.[5]
Plot
editAccident-prone Jeff works at a NATO research facility as an animal behaviourist. He steals a tiny amount of Project X, but an Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks it. X is a liquid growth formula (a form of experimental fertilizer) and Digby expands to gigantic proportions.
Cast
edit- Jim Dale - Jeff Eldon
- Angela Douglas - Janine
- Spike Milligan - Dr. Harz
- John Bluthal - Jerry
- Milo O'Shea - Dr. Jameson
- Norman Rossington - Tom
- Richard Beaumont - Billy White
- Dinsdale Landen - Colonel Masters
- Garfield Morgan - Rogerson
- Victor Spinetti - Professor Ribart
- Harry Towb - Ringmaster
- Kenneth J. Warren - General Frank
- Bob Todd - The Great Manzini
- Molly Urquhart - Aunt Ina
- Frank Thornton - Estate Agent
- Victor Maddern - Dog Home Manager
- Sheila Steafel - Control Operator
Notes
edit- ^ Malcolm, Derek (6 December 1973). "Not-so-cheapskate". The Guardian. p. 14; "Theatres, Cinemas, Art Galleries". The London Daily Telegraph. 6 December 1973. p. 27.
- ^ a b "Digby the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)". Archived from the original on 18 July 2016.
- ^ "Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973) - Joseph McGrath - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ Gifford, Denis (1 April 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Video: Dulux dog returns to TV screens for first time in a decade". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.