Gone to the Dogs (1939 film)

Gone to the Dogs
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1939
Founder	Ken G. Hall (director and producer)
Products	Musical comedy film
Parent	Cinesound Productions

Gone to the Dogs is a 1939 Australian musical comedy featuring George Wallace in the lead role, with direction and production by Ken G. Hall. This film marked Wallace's second collaboration with Hall, following their earlier project Let George Do It (1938).

Synopsis

George, an awkward zoo attendant, stumbles upon a substance that enhances speed, enabling his greyhound to run faster. This discovery attracts the interest of criminals led by Doctor Sundermann, who operate out of a supposedly "haunted house" near the zoo. They abduct George’s dog to manipulate the outcome of an upcoming race. However, George and his companions manage to foil their scheme, resulting in his dog's triumph.

At the same time, Jean McAllister, the daughter of George’s housekeeper, finds herself caught in a romantic rivalry between veterinarian Jimmy Alderson and Ted Inchape. Tensions rise after Ted kisses Jean following the performance of the title song.

Cast

George Wallace as George
Lois Green as Jean McAllister
John Dobbie as Henry Applegate
John Fleeting as Jimmy Alderson
Ronald Whelan as Willard
Alec Kellaway as Mad Jack
Letty Craydon as Mrs McAllister
Kathleen Esler as Irene Inchape
Howard Craven as Ted Inchape
Harold Meade as Mr Inchape
Lou Vernon as Doctor Sundermann
George Lloyd as Quinn
Harry Abdy as Hogg
Reginald Collins as Benson
Jack Settle as head keeper
Stephen Doo as Sing Lo, performing a musical number with Wallace’s dance routine
Hughie as Aloysius, the dog

Production

In February 1937, George Wallace signed a contract with Cinesound. Although Stuart F. Doyle initially announced that Gone to the Dogs would be Wallace’s debut film for the studio, he ultimately made Let George Do It first.

Consistent with Cinesound’s comedic productions of the late 1930s, uncredited contributions to the script came from Hall, Jim Bancks, and Bill Maloney, while Frank Coffey served as the studio’s story editor. The narrative followed a familiar pattern established in Wallace’s earlier film Ticket in Tatts: George assumes a modest working-class role, is wrongly dismissed, then becomes entangled in a fantasy-driven plot complicated by clichéd gangsters driven by greed and frequently thwarted—often unintentionally—by George and his associates. Filmink observed that this screenplay was more cohesively structured than previous Wallace scripts and was co-written by Frank Harvey, who provided witty dialogue outside of Wallace's scenes.

Principal photography commenced in January 1939 and concluded by May.

Lois Green played the female lead; she was a seasoned stage actress affiliated with J. C. Williamson Ltd who departed Australia for London after filming. John Fleeting portrayed the romantic male lead; an amateur actor who later appeared in Hall’s Come Up Smiling (1939). The supporting ensemble included John Dobbie, Wallace’s longtime stage partner; Howard Craven, who transitioned from MGM publicity work to acting; and Lou Vernon cast as the villain with a foreign accent. Hughie the dog was chosen from over 100 contenders to play George’s greyhound. Background performers were recruited from Cinesound's Talent School.

The film featured a set described as the largest ever built for an Australian production at more than 12,000 square feet. Some scenes were shot on location at Taronga Zoo.

During filming on location in Campbelltown, an incident occurred when a scene depicting George Wallace being run over prompted a local farmer to alert authorities.

One notable sequence was the "greyhound ballet" accompanying the title song, which required two weeks of training greyhounds to perform alongside ballet dancers. The opening scene showcased Wallace encountering gorillas; special effects designer J Kenyon modified original fur costumes for better mobility and ventilation. Ultimately, professional wrestler Fred Atkins portrayed both gorilla characters and lost considerable weight during production. Actor Grant Taylor auditioned for one of these roles but was instead cast in Dad Rudd, MP (1940).

The film’s theme music was composed by Henry Krips, a Viennese-born musician residing in Sydney.

Songs

"We'll Build a Little Home" – composed and written by George Wallace (arrangement by Henry Kripps)
"Gone to the Dogs" – lyrics by Harry Allen, music composed by Henry Kripps

Release

Gone to the Dogs had its debut at the Majestic Theatre, Launceston in 1939. Hall later reflected that the two films he collaborated on with Wallace achieved "considerable success". Critical reception was mostly favorable.

In the United Kingdom, the film was distributed in an edited form. Hall clarified that the original 75-minute runtime was shortened to 55 minutes by distributors to accommodate its placement as a secondary feature, which involved cutting significant comedic scenes and modifying the title for local appeal.

Filmink commended the movie for its "charmingly unabashed" approach to engaging viewers, emphasizing Hall's energetic direction alongside George Wallace’s comedic performances. The publication also highlighted Lois Green as a notable talent, praising her engaging presence and adaptability.

External links

Gone to the Dogs on Australian Screen Online
Gone to the Dogs at Oz Movies
Gone to the Dogs on Peter Malone’s site
Film review in Variety