All Dogs Go to Heaven (video game)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animation film production |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Founder | Don Bluth, John Pomeroy, Gary Goldman |
| Headquarters | Dublin , Ireland |
| Products | Animated films (including All Dogs Go to Heaven) |
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a 1989 animated musical fantasy film blending comedy and drama, directed by Don Bluth with co-direction from Gary Goldman—marking his first time in that role—and Dan Kuenster. The story unfolds in 1939 New Orleans and centers on Charlie B. Barkin (voiced by Burt Reynolds), a German Shepherd who is killed by his former associate Carface Carruthers (voiced by Vic Tayback). After escaping from Heaven, Charlie returns to Earth intent on revenge but instead forms a bond with an orphan girl, Anne-Marie (voiced by Judith Barsi), through which he learns valuable lessons about compassion, friendship, and love.
This film represents a collaborative production between British, Irish, and American studios, specifically Goldcrest Films and Sullivan Bluth Studios Ireland Limited. Released concurrently with Walt Disney's The Little Mermaid, it did not achieve the same box-office success as Sullivan Bluth’s previous hits such as An American Tail and The Land Before Time. Nevertheless, it found remarkable success in the home video market, becoming one of the top-selling VHS titles. The franchise later expanded to include a theatrical sequel, a television series, and a holiday-themed direct-to-video installment.
Plot
Set in 1939 New Orleans, Charlie B. Barkin escapes from the local dog pound alongside his companion Itchy Itchiford and makes his way back to their casino riverboat on the bayou. His business partner Carface Caruthers is shocked to see him alive but unwilling to share profits. Driven by greed, Carface had orchestrated Charlie’s capture and now attempts to kill him by pushing a car downhill. Despite Charlie’s moral shortcomings, he is admitted to Heaven because dogs are naturally loyal and good-hearted. A whippet angel explains this but warns Charlie that after cheating death by stealing and rewinding a pocket watch symbolizing life, he is forbidden from returning.
Back on Earth, Charlie reunites with Itchy and plots revenge by establishing a competing enterprise. They uncover that Carface’s success depends on an orphan girl named Anne-Marie, who possesses the unique ability to communicate with animals—giving them an advantage in gambling. Charlie rescues her, vowing to help her find a family and assist the needy. Utilizing their gambling winnings, they develop a thriving junkyard casino. When Anne-Marie realizes she has been exploited, she threatens to leave; however, Charlie convinces her to stay after they aid a struggling puppy family. Tensions escalate when Anne-Marie discovers a stolen wallet.
Following a nightmare about Hell, Anne-Marie returns the wallet to its owners, Kate and Harold, who consider adopting her. Charlie deceives her into leaving with him. They narrowly evade an ambush orchestrated by Carface and his henchman Killer but subsequently fall into King Gator’s lair—a giant alligator who bonds with Charlie through music and releases them unharmed. During this ordeal, Anne-Marie contracts pneumonia. Carface then destroys Charlie’s casino and assaults Itchy. Feeling betrayed, Itchy confronts Charlie, who admits plans to leave Anne-Marie at an orphanage. Heartbroken, Anne-Marie flees but is captured by Carface.
Charlie pursues them to Carface’s casino where a confrontation ignites an oil fire. Charlie’s howls summon King Gator, who devours Carface. Amidst the chaos, Anne-Marie and the life-representing watch fall into water; Charlie chooses to save Anne-Marie but dies as the watch ceases functioning. Kate and Harold rescue Anne-Marie along with Itchy and other dogs. Eventually adopted by Kate and Harold alongside Itchy, Anne-Marie reunites with Charlie’s spirit—who has regained his place in Heaven. Before departing for Heaven again, Charlie entrusts Itchy to her care. In a mid-credits scene, Carface returns seeking vengeance against King Gator after acquiring his own watch; the whippet angel warns him while Charlie assures that "he'll be back."
Voice cast
- Burt Reynolds voices Charlie B. Barkin, a bold German Shepherd and ex-con artist.
- Dom DeLuise portrays Itchy Itchiford, a cautious yet devoted Dachshund who is Charlie’s closest companion.
- Judith Barsi (singing voice by Lana Beeson) plays Anne-Marie, a 7-year-old orphan gifted with the ability to talk to animals. This role was Barsi's last before her passing in 1988; the closing song "Love Survives" was dedicated in her honor.
- Vic Tayback embodies Carface Carruthers, a ruthless Bulldog mobster. This film marked Tayback’s final acting appearance prior to his death in 1990.
- Charles Nelson Reilly voices Killer, an anxious Schnoodle who serves as Carface’s humorous accomplice.
- Loni Anderson is Flo, a female Rough Collie and friend of Charlie.
- Melba Moore provides the voice of Annabelle, a Whippet angel who guides deceased dogs to Heaven.
- Ken Page plays King Gator, an American alligator voodoo witch doctor based in New Orleans.
- Rob Fuller and Earleen Carey lend their voices to Kate and Harold, Anne-Marie’s adoptive parents.
- Additional voice roles include Godfrey Quigley as Terrier, Anna Manahan as Stella Dallas, Candy Devine as Vera, and Dan Molina (uncredited) as the hellhound.
Production
Don Bluth developed the concept following The Secret of NIMH, initially envisioning a dog detective story within an anthology format. The character Charlie was specifically created for Burt Reynolds. Financial setbacks led Don Bluth Productions to declare bankruptcy before the project progressed beyond preliminary storyboards. The film was later revived by Bluth along with John Pomeroy and Gary Goldman, with David N. Weiss undertaking a script rewrite between October and December 1987. Drawing inspiration from classics such as It's a Wonderful Life and Little Miss Marker, the title All Dogs Go to Heaven was preserved for its provocative nature.
This production represented Sullivan Bluth Studios' inaugural fully Irish-based venture after relocating from Van Nuys to a new facility in Dublin. Unlike earlier projects financed by Hollywood studios with oversight from executives like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, this film secured funding from UK-based Goldcrest Films through a $70 million agreement covering three features (two were completed). Founders Bluth, Pomeroy, and Goldman moved to Ireland; during the production phase, Pomeroy returned to the United States to manage a satellite studio contributing animation work and helped promote the project at the 1987 San Diego Comic-Con.
Lead actors Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, who had appeared together in five previous films, recorded their dialogue simultaneously—a rarity in American animation—permitting significant improvisation that enriched the script. Similarly, Vic Tayback and Charles Nelson Reilly recorded their parts together. Loni Anderson, cast as Flo, was married to Reynolds at the time. Child actress Judith Barsi reunited with Bluth after working on The Land Before Time; tragically, she passed away over a year before this film's release.
Following test screenings, edits were made to soften intense scenes for younger viewers; notably, Charlie’s nightmare sequence was shortened to improve commercial viability. Bluth had intended to release a director’s cut including removed footage; however, that print was stolen from his storage facility, restricting future release possibilities.
Music
The musical score for All Dogs Go to Heaven was created by Ralph Burns, with additional songs contributed by Charles Strouse, T.J. Kuenster, Joel Hirschhorn, and Al Kasha. The soundtrack album, released on July 1, 1989, through Curb Records, contains 13 tracks available on both cassette and CD formats. Among these are seven vocal numbers performed by members of the cast. Notably, the song "Let Me Be Surprised" includes a profanity found in a dialogue segment that was ultimately removed from the final cut of the movie. The closing credits feature the song "Love Survives," which serves as a tribute to Judith Barsi, the voice actress of Anne-Marie, who passed away before the film premiered.
Songs
The soundtrack comprises original compositions including:
Critical response
All Dogs Go to Heaven garnered a mixed critical reception, holding a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 50 out of 100. Many reviewers unfavorably contrasted it with The Little Mermaid, pointing to its uneven storyline, animation standards, and musical numbers by Charlie Strouse and T.J. Kuenster. On the television program At the Movies, Gene Siskel gave it a negative review, criticizing its unclear plot and violent content. Conversely, Roger Ebert commended the animation’s fluidity and found enjoyment in the film despite acknowledging it did not reach classic status.
Certain critics raised concerns about the film’s inclusion of darker elements—such as death, violence, theft, alcohol consumption, smoking, gambling, murder, demonic figures, and imagery related to Hell—considering them inappropriate for a family audience. However, others applauded its emotional resonance, humor, and bright color scheme. Ebert awarded it three stars out of four, highlighting its inventive visuals and vivid hues despite favoring The Little Mermaid. In contrast, Leonard Maltin gave it one-and-a-half stars due to unlikable characters, confusing narrative structure, and forgettable songs. Common Sense Media also expressed reservations regarding the depiction of drug use and mature themes within this family-targeted film.
Box office
Unhappy with Universal Pictures’ distribution terms, the production company chose to collaborate with United Artists for release. Goldcrest Films invested $15 million toward prints and marketing efforts while negotiating a reduced distribution fee with UA—a strategy similar to their previous deal for The Secret of NIMH. Due to contractual limitations, merchandise tie-ins were scarce; among the few promotions were a computer game for the Commodore Amiga platform and Wendy’s Kids’ Meal toys.
Debuting in North America on November 17, 1989—the same day as Disney's The Little Mermaid—the movie faced intense box office competition. It earned $27 million domestically but fell short compared to Bluth’s earlier successes An American Tail and The Land Before Time, each of which grossed more than twice as much. This film represented Bluth’s last major commercial hit until 1997’s Anastasia, which went on to become his highest-grossing title.
Awards and honors
At the 11th Annual Youth in Film Awards, All Dogs Go to Heaven was nominated for "Best Family Motion Picture: Adventure or Cartoon" but ultimately lost to Disney's The Little Mermaid. Its home video edition received an Award of Excellence from the Film Advisory Board.
Home media
All Dogs Go to Heaven was made available on VHS, S-VHS, 8mm video, and LaserDisc formats through MGM/UA Home Video on August 28, 1990. The movie gained unexpected popularity as a sleeper hit following its home video launch, driven by an effective marketing effort that resulted in sales exceeding 3 million VHS units within the first month. In 1994, a subsequent VHS edition was released under the MGM/UA Family Entertainment banner, distributed exclusively by Warner Home Video.
The film first appeared on DVD on March 6, 2001, via the MGM Kids label, and later was reissued as a double feature with All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 on March 14, 2006. Its initial Blu-ray release came on March 29, 2011, followed by a bundled edition with its sequel in October 2014 that also included a DVD re-release. Additionally, the Blu-ray was paired with Don Bluth’s The Pebble and the Penguin in 2013 and featured in MGM's 90th anniversary "Best of Family Collection" released in February 2014.
A video game adaptation named All Dogs Go To Heaven was launched for DOS in 1989 and for Amiga in 1990. This game consists of ten mini-games arranged into a story mode with three selectable difficulty levels. In 1997, an interactive title called All Dogs Go To Heaven Activity Center, based on the film, was introduced for Windows PC.
Sequels
The original film’s strong performance, particularly in home video sales, paved the way for multiple follow-ups: a theatrical sequel titled All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 released in 1996; an animated television series named All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series which aired from 1996 to 1998; and a holiday-themed TV movie, An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998), inspired by Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Neither Don Bluth nor his studio participated in these subsequent projects. The lead voice actor Reynolds did not reprise his role as Charlie; instead, Charlie Sheen voiced the character in the sequel film, while Steven Weber took over for the television series. Reilly opted out of the sequel film but returned to voice Killer in the TV adaptations. Throughout the franchise, DeLuise consistently provided the voice for Itchy.