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Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
---|---|
Breed | German Shepherd Dog |
Sex | Male |
Born | Etzel von Oeringen October 1, 1917 Wrocław, Poland |
Died | June 24, 1929 (aged 11) Los Angeles, California, US |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1921–1927 |
Owner | Jane Murfin |
![Dog Dog](http://i1.wp.com/moviessilently.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/birth-header.jpg?fit=816%2C9999)
Strongheart, a German Shepherd who became the first dog movie star, helped to. After being trained to be a attack dog, he was assigned to the German military. Vollkommen German Shepherd Kennel Texas - West German Show Line. A photo in the June 19, 1924 Los Angeles Times shows Bunk holding a sheaf of letters in his mouth, with the caption: “Dog Stars of Filmland – First Annual Film-.
Etzel von Oeringen (October 1, 1917 – June 24, 1929), better known as Strongheart, was a male German Shepherd who was one of the early canine stars of feature films.
Biography[edit]
Laurence Trimble and Strongheart (1921)
Born October 1, 1917, Etzel von Oeringen was a male German Shepherd dog bred by a private breeder, Robert Niedhardt of Quedlinburg, Germany.[1] Etzel was trained in Berlin as a police dog and served in the German Red Cross during World War I.[2] His owner was left in poverty after the war, and was unable to even support the dog. Concerned that Etzel would end up in less humane hands, he declined larger offers and instead sent the dog to a friend who operated a reputable kennel in White Plains, New York.[3] At age three, Etzel was brought to the United States to be sold.[4]
At the sixth annual show of the Shepherd Dog Club of America, October 15–16, 1920, Etzel placed third in his class. He was described as 'immense in body and hind leg formation, in body and legs a trifle better than either of the dogs above him'.[5]
Etzel was seen by film director Laurence Trimble, who had owned and guided Jean, the Vitagraph Dog, the first canine movie star in the United States. Trimble recognized Etzel's potential and persuaded Jane Murfin, a screenwriter for his films, to buy the dog.[3][4] A new name, Strongheart, was suggested by the publicity department of First National Pictures, which released his first film.[6]
Strongheart and Lady Jule (1924)
Trimble trained Strongheart and directed him in four rugged outdoor adventure films scripted by Murfin: The Silent Call (1921), Brawn of the North (1922), The Love Master (1924) and White Fang (1925).[7] Strongheart became the first major canine film star,[8] preceding the fame of Rin Tin Tin by two years.[9]
Strongheart's films did much to encourage the popularity of the German Shepherd breed. Strongheart and his mate, Lady Jule, had many offspring and their line survives to this day.[citation needed]
In 1929, while being filmed for a movie, Strongheart accidentally made contact with a hot studio light and was burned. These burns caused a tumor to form, which ultimately caused his death.[10]Strongheart died June 24, 1929, at Murfin's home.[2]
Filmography[edit]
Die-cut herald for Brawn of the North (1922), a lost film[11]
Virtually all of Strongheart's films have been lost.[12]:61 A print of The Love Master (1924) survives in France, at the National Center of Cinematography and the moving image.[13]The Return of Boston Blackie (1927) survives from a 16mm print[14][15] and is available on region-free DVD.[16]
Year | Title | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1921 | The Silent Call | Laurence Trimble | [7] |
1922 | Brawn of the North | Laurence Trimble | [7] |
1924 | The Love Master | Laurence Trimble | [7] |
1925 | White Fang | Laurence Trimble | [7] |
1925 | North Star | Paul Powell | [7] |
1927 | The Return of Boston Blackie | Harry O. Hoyt | [7] |
Accolades[edit]
Strongheart was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960. His star is located at 1724 Vine Street.[17]
Cultural references[edit]
Strongheart; The Story of a Wonder Dog (1926)
In the 1926 picture book Strongheart; The Story of a Wonder Dog, Trimble wrote the story of how Strongheart came to the United States and was chosen for motion pictures, of his training, and of his progress in films culminating with White Fang.[3]
Strongheart's popularity inspired Doyle Packing Company to adopt his name and photograph for a canned dog food in 1932.[18][19] Strongheart Dog Food did a respectable business, especially in the Midwest,[20] and was available in stores until at least 2002.[21]
J. Allen Boone wrote two books, Letters to Strongheart (1939)[22] and Kinship with All Life (1954),[23] about animal communication and the survival of the dog's soul after death. Both books were reprinted many times and remain classics of the Spiritualist faith. Boone was a Washington Post correspondent who looked after Strongheart for an extended period while Murfin and Trimble were away on business. Boone and Strongheart reportedly formed a deep bond, and Boone believed the dog was a transformational being.[12]:62–63
Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog (2014) is a picture book for young audiences by Caldecott Medal winner Emily Arnold McCully.[24]The New York Times praised her 'meticulous job of recreating the quicksilver world of that bygone media age. The megaphones, bobbed hair and jodhpurs are all here. And in Etzel, a dog born and bred to be strong and brave, she has given young readers a rare portrait of a Hollywood hero who was just as heroic off-screen as on.'[25]
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen (2018) is a novel for ages 8-12 by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Eric Rohmann. [26]Kirkus Reviews said, 'Like a silent movie plot, Fleming’s narrative is full of adventure, romance, and suspense.' [27] The book received a starred review in Booklist. [28]
References[edit]
- ^'Stud Book Report'. The American Kennel Gazette and Stud Book. American Kennel Club. 34 (10): 1076. October 31, 1922. Retrieved 2016-08-01.
- ^ ab'Dog Hero of Films Dies'. The New York Times. June 25, 1929. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^ abcTrimble, Laurence (1926). Strongheart; The Story of a Wonder Dog. Racine, Wis.: Whitman Publishing Company. OCLC4451141.
- ^ ab'The Story of Strongheart'. Photoplay. December 1921. pp. 48, 97–98. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^Muss-Arnolt, G. (December 1920). 'The Shepherd Dog Specialty Show'. Dogdom. Vol. 21 no. 10. Battle Creek, Michigan: F. E. Bechmann. p. 480.
- ^'Hollywood Star Walk: Strongheart'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-07-31.
- ^ abcdefg'Strongheart'. AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- ^'Laurence Trimble Dies'. The New York Times. February 10, 1954. Retrieved 2015-11-28.
- ^Buck, Julie (September 27, 2013). 'Jane Murfin'. Women Film Pioneers Project. Center for Digital Research and Scholarship, Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved 2016-08-26.
- ^'Strongheart'. walkoffame.com. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
- ^'Brawn of the North'. Progressive Silent Film List. Silent Era. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^ abOrlean, Susan (2011). Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN978-1-4391-9013-5.
- ^'The Love Master / Laurence Trimble [motion picture]'. Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^'The Return of Boston Blackie'. Progressive Silent Film List. Silent Era. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^'The Return of Boston Blackie'. YouTube. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^'Home Video Review, The Return of Boston Blackie'. Progressive Silent Film List. Silent Era. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^'Strongheart'. Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^'Strongheart Dog Food'. Trademarkia. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^John Morrell & Co. v. Doyle et al., No. 6446, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 97 F.2d 232; 1938 U.S. App. Lexis 3747. May 9, 1938.
- ^Lazarus, George (September 5, 1985). 'Beatrice Puts Dog-food Brand On Selling Block'. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^Tighe, Theresa (August 12, 2002). 'Myrtle the Affectionate Turtle Who Comes When Called Isn't a Tall Tale'. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^Boone, J. Allen (1939). Letters to Strongheart. New York: Prentice-Hall, Inc. OCLC6598887.
- ^Boone, J. Allen (1954). Kinship with All Life. New York: Harper. OCLC4343590.
- ^McCully, Emily Arnold (2014). Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN9780805094480.
- ^Marcus, Leonard S. (November 9, 2014). 'Unexpected Heroes'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-07-30.
- ^Fleming, Candace. 'Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen'. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^'STRONGHEART'. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^'Booklist Review: Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen'. Booklist. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Strongheart. |
- Strongheart on IMDb
- Etzel von Oeringen at the Pedigree Database
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strongheart&oldid=945262438'
Species | Dog |
---|---|
Breed | Parson Russell Terrier |
Sex | Male |
Born | February 14, 2002 |
Died | August 7, 2015 (aged 13) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Nation from | United States |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2005–15 |
Known for | The Artist and Water for Elephants |
Owner | Omar von Muller |
Weight | 16 lb (7.3 kg) |
Appearance | White and tan |
Awards | 2011 Palm Dog Award 2012 Golden Collar Award |
Uggie (February 14, 2002 – August 7, 2015)[1][2] was a trained Parson Russell Terrier famous for his roles in Water for Elephants and The Artist. His memoir Uggie, My Story was published in the United States, UK, and France in October 2012.
The campaign 'Consider Uggie' was launched in December 2011 on Facebook by S.T. VanAirsdale, an editor at Movieline, for Uggie to receive a real or Honorary Academy Award nomination. BAFTA announced that he would be ineligible for one of its awards, while he received a special mention at the Prix Lumière Awards in France. He won the Palm Dog Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
Early life and family[edit]
Uggie was rejected by at least his first two owners as being too wild.[3] He was about to be sent to a dog pound, but was adopted by animal trainer Omar Von Muller after his friends alerted him to the dog.[3] Von Muller intended only to foster the dog while he found him a new home, but decided that Uggie should stay.[4] He said of the dog, 'He was a crazy, very energetic puppy, and who knows what would have happened to him if he [had] gone to the dog pound. But he was very smart and very willing to work. One of the most important thing[s] is that he was not afraid of things. That is what makes or breaks a dog in the movies, whether they are afraid of lights, and noises and being on sets. He gets rewards, like sausages, to encourage him to perform, but that is only a part of it. He works hard.'[3] When not working, Uggie lived in North Hollywood with Von Muller, Von Muller's wife and Von Muller's 6-year-old daughter. There are six other dogs in the household, all of whom work in the film industry.[4]
Career[edit]
Uggie's earliest roles were in commercials and minor roles in the films What's Up Scarlett,Wassup Rockers (2005) and Mr. Fix It (2006) alongside David Boreanaz.[3][4] His first named role, and big break, was as 'Queenie' in the romantic drama Water for Elephants, alongside actors Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.[3][5] He appeared in 'The Incredible Dog Show' from August 2010 onwards,[6][7] a tour of dogs with different tricks, which toured the United States and South America; his trick was riding a skateboard.[8]
He went on to appear in the 2011 silent movieThe Artist, and it was this role which brought him to the attention of mass media,[3] with some critics describing him as 'stealing every scene'.[9] He had two stunt doubles in the film, named Dash and Dude, who were colored to look more like Uggie, but Uggie did most of his own stunts and the doubles were barely required.[3] Uggie and his trainers for the film, Sarah Clifford and Omar Muller, spent three days with the film's star Jean Dujardin to teach the French actor the verbal commands and hand signals Uggie needed in a scene.[4] Because it was a silent film, the trainers could also call out commands while the film was rolling.[8]
He attended the American Film Institute premiere of the film and walked the red carpet along with the rest of the cast.[10] Uggie promoted the film on a week-long promotional tour, appearing on television shows in the UK, including The Graham Norton Show. He also appeared at a charity screening in London's West End, in aid of Dogs Trust.[3] Uggie appeared opposite another Jack Russell terrier named Cosmo from Mike Mills' Beginners in a photoshoot spread for The Hollywood Reporter.[11] He also appeared in other photoshoots for W magazine and The Hollywood Reporter.[10] During the 'Consider Uggie' campaign, an official Twitter account was set up in his name.[12]
Trainer von Mueller said that Uggie was approaching retirement and that he wouldn't want him to have to go through the same long hours that the dog experienced while filming The Artist again, but would be willing to let Uggie take other less intense jobs.[3] On February 8, 2012, Uggie was named as Nintendo's first-ever spokesdog. He helped promote their 3DS video game Nintendogs + Cats during Responsible Pet Ownership Month.[13] Later that year he became a spokesdog for PETA in an ad campaign that encouraged potential dog owners to adopt from shelters.[14] Uggie made a cameo appearance in the 2012 comedy film The Campaign, his final film role before retirement.[15]
'Consider Uggie'[edit]
After The Artist received critical acclaim sufficient to suggest that the film might have a real chance of winning 'Best Picture' awards, S.T. VanAirsdale, an editor at Movieline, began a campaign called 'Consider Uggie' on Facebook to seek recognition for Uggie's performance; he felt that the dog outperformed Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in J. Edgar, but probably wasn't as good as George Clooney in The Descendants.[4][16] However, a precedent was set for the Oscars in 1929 at the 1st Academy Awards when German Shepherd dog actor Rin Tin Tin, according to legend, gained the most votes for the Award for Best Actor.[5] Actor Emil Jannings was actually presented with the award on the night.[17]
Cast and crew on The Artist responded to the campaign, with James Cromwell supporting the move to ensure Uggie was recognized, saying he was 'wonderfully trained and talented' and supporting the move to install a special Oscar for animals in film.[4]The Daily Telegraph endorsed the campaign, believing that a win for Uggie at the Oscars would be a win for all canine film stars, such as Fox TerrierAsta, and Terry, the Cairn Terrier who portrayed Toto in The Wizard of Oz.[18]
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts responded: 'Regretfully, we must advise that as he is not a human being and as his unique motivation as an actor was sausages, Uggie is not qualified to compete for the BAFTA in this category.'[3] This was after a number of members had contacted BAFTA to inquire if they were allowed to vote for Uggie for Best Actor.[19]
Awards[edit]
Uggie won the Palm Dog Award for best performance by a canine at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, for his role as 'Jack' in The Artist.[20][21] It was the 11th year in which the award was handed out and goes to the best canine performance.[3] Following the 'Consider Uggie' campaign, Jone Bauman of the American Humane Association said Uggie was in line for a Pawscar, the association's awards for animals in films.[17]
He has also received a special mention at the Prix Lumière Awards, the French equivalent of the Golden Globes.[22] Uggie and Cosmo shared the prize for 'Best performance by an animal', awarded by The Seattle Times movie critic Moira Macdonald.[23]
On February 13, 2012, Uggie was named Best Dog in a Theatrical Film at the first Golden Collar Awards, awarded by Dog News Daily.[24] The awards were only launched a couple of months prior, due to the attention Uggie was getting for his performance in The Artist.[25]
On June 25, 2012, he had his paw prints placed in cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.[26]
Death[edit]
Uggie was euthanized at the age of 13 on August 7, 2015 after developing a prostate tumor.[27]
Filmography[edit]
Year | Film | Role | Awards |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | What's Up Scarlett | uncredited | |
2005 | Wassup Rockers | Biting Dog | |
2006 | Mr. Fix It | The Terrier | |
2011 | Water for Elephants | Queenie | |
2011 | The Artist | The Dog | Hollywood Walk of Fame American Humane Association for Association's Award Cannes Film Festival Palm Dog Award Golden Collar Award for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film Prix Lumière Special Mention The Seattle Times for Best Performance by an Animal (awarded by critic Moira Macdonald) |
2012 | The Campaign | Himself | |
2012 | Key & Peele | Racist Dog | |
2013 | Holiday Road Trip | Scoots |
References[edit]
- ^'Uggie The Artist on Twitter'. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^'Uggie The-Artist'. Facebook. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
- ^ abcdefghijkCopping, Jasper (2012-01-08). 'The dog actor generating Oscar buzz'. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ abcdefEber, Hailey (2011-12-04). 'Fetch 'Artist''. New York Post. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ abClarke, Cath (2011-12-22). 'First sight: Uggie'. The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Patch, Jon (2011-12-02). 'Don't miss Uggie the terrier's breakthrough performance in THE ARTIST – one of this year's top Oscar contenders!'. Talkin Pets. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^'Previous Shows'. The Incredible Dogs. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
- ^ abKilday, Gregg (2011-11-11). 'How Rin Tin Tin Ruined Any Oscar Shot for 'The Artist's' Jack Russell'. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Vincent, Mal (2012-01-05). 'The Virginian-Pilot's 10 best movies from 2011'. The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ ab'Uggie hits the UK, star of the Oscar-favourite The Artist'. Film-News.co.uk. 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^''Oscar Dogs''. Huffington Post. 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^Alexander, Bryan (2012-01-05). 'Listen up, Oscar: These animals are naturals'. Tuczon Citizen. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^'Canine Superstar Uggie Lands Epic Role as Nintendo's First-Ever 'Spokesdog''. Business Wire Press Release. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
- ^'Uggie 'The Artist' Dog PETA Ad: Campaign to Adopt a Pet,' Huffington Post, 1 May 2012.
- ^Rojas Weiss, Sabrina (August 9, 2012). 'Is The Campaign To Blame for Uggie's Retirement?'. VH1. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^Alexander, Al (2011-12-30). 'Movie remakes stole the show in 2011'. Patriot Ledger. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^ abWheeler, Brian (2012-01-10). 'Can Hollywood's top dogs really act?'. BBC News Magazine. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^'The Hollywood pack'. The Daily Telegraph. 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Grosz, Christy (2011-12-18). 'BAFTA Members Are Told: 'No Write-Ins for Uggie!''. Variety. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Nissim, Mayer (2011-05-21). ''The Artist' Uggie wins 2011 'Palm Dog''. Digital Spy. Retrieved 2011-05-21.
- ^''The Artist' screenplay'. Simply Scripts. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
- ^Ryzik, Melena (2012-01-05). 'Writers, Art Directors and Now Uggie'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Macdonald, Moira (2011-12-29). 'Seattle Times movie critic details the best and worst of cinema in 2011'. The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- ^Parker, Monkey. 'uggie wins big at first ever golden collar awards'. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^Pond, Steve (14 February 2012). 'Uggie is top dog at the Golden Collar Awards - of course'. Reuters. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^Kilday, Gregg (June 19, 2012). ''The Artist's' Uggie to Plant His Paws in Cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre'. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
Although his trainer Omar Von Muller had said that the perky pooch’s appearance on February's Oscar show would be his last hurrah, Uggie will make one more curtain call at 10 a.m. June 25 at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to plant his paws in its fabled cement.
- ^Stone, Natalie. 'The Hollywood Reporter Uggie the Dog, Star of 'The Artist,' Dies at 13 (Report)'. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
External links[edit]
- Uggie on IMDb
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Uggie&oldid=917379672'
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