Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood

source: Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood

I love Madeline Khan and Teri Garr. So, when I saw this movie for sale, I thought: "How could I have missed this gem?" After watching it, I now know why. It isn't a gem, it is a lump of coal. The movie tries to be tongue-in-cheek and high-camp but doesn't even succeed there. Yes, I know the movie isn't meant to be taken seriously (eg Young Frankenstein) but it fails there. The cast is full of stars, most of whom make cameos. Remember, the movie came out in 1976 so a lot of the old time actors and stars were still alive. But they were very hard to recognize and most only had just a few seconds of screen time. Seriously, this might be the worst movie I've ever seen.

My friend knew I was a fan of Michael Winner, as previously I lent him a copy of "SCREAM FOR HELP". So he returned the favor with the polar opposite "WON TON TON THE DOG WHO SAVED HOLLYWOOD". This was one of those films I heard of, but never went out of my way to see. Watching it was eye-boggling, as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's the "Where's Wally" of Hollywood filmmaking, as star after star after star of golden age cinema show up in small and at times, unimportant roles. Just looking at that cast listing, is a curiosity, but what a waste. Still all of this does become a distraction, with it simply being a hyperbolic hodgepodge of situational humor done at a frenetic pace. It's obviously trying for that charming old-school slapstick comedy of errors and mischief, yet the scatterbrain energy, comic interplay and running gags begin to wear out its welcome. When you think it can't get any more ridiculous, it does, but that's when it kind shows up the shortcomings and lack of variety. It's very shallow, but I could be possibly missing something? A social commentary of the infatuating highs and devastating lows that makes Hollywood what it is? Nah, it's just an aspiring showbiz tale of a gal (Madeline Kahn), a guy (Bruce Dern) and a dog in twenties Hollywood consisting of numerous in-jokes and animated performances. The amusingly gleeful Madeline Kahn and an exaggerated Ron Leibman do steal most of the scenes. Well that's when Won Ton Ton is not doing his thing. It might be a train wreck, but it had its moments. Or you'll be pondering what were they thinking?

I never saw Won Ton Ton when it was released (although I was certainly old enough). The reviews were so damning that, in spite of a chance to see some of my favorites (The Ritz Brothers, Joan Blondell, Fritz Feld, Terri Garr and a host of former stars), I put it off until I bought the DVD and played it tonight. Perhaps the direction could have been better; certainly the camera-work wasn't consistent, but we thought it far funnier and more clever than many other 1970s movies that were better-received. The dog (or series of dogs) in the title role was (were) brilliant, even in extended shots. Harry & Jimmy Ritz (who, contrary to the IMDb cast list, WERE billed) showed, 40 years after their prime, why they were comedians' comedians. Art Carney didn't disappoint. I like Madeline Kahn but am not the fan that many are, and rather wish Terri Garr had the opportunity to play the lead. Rob Liebman and Fritz Feld gave topnotch comic performances. And Bruce Dern brought energy and comic sense to his lead role. It was a delight to watch the many former stars who, in a few moments of screen time, still knew how to nail a character and a scene. I wish Joan Blondell, now recognized as one of the finest and freshest actors of Hollywood's studio era, had been given a larger role. Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood isn't a comic masterpiece, but it is far better than its reputation. More important: it is fun!

It has been thirty years since I saw this movie when released for TV. The first thing that caught my attention was the movie was promoted for having a CAVALCADE OF STARS. There is a myriad of cameo appearances by stars from the past. The story line starts out rather slowly, and I was fortunate to be patient enough until an actual plot began to develop. Similar to a good book, you almost don't make it to the point when it becomes interesting and then the fun begins and you have a hard time putting it down. It's a parody on former Hollywood Stars, their ego's and excesses. Very amusing yet silly, but there is realistic parallel to the current tribulations of today,s pop stars L.Lohnan and B. Spears. I can't understand why it has not been shown on a Movie Channel This movie has somewhat of a cultishness to it. As a young boy Rin Tin Tin was and always will be my favorite but when looking for an unusual ethereal type movie WON TON TON is the STAR.

About the only interesting thing about this movie is just how many old stars you'll see, and for many of them, it was to be their last movie. Too bad it was in a stinker.

If you're a stargazer and like those films with all those names of yesteryear coming on for a brief walk on, then Won Ton Ton is your kind of film. It was nice to see a lot of those old familiar character actors and a few leads from days gone by do a brief appearance. Some of them might have needed a paycheck, I can think of one who probably did, but I won't say. Told in flashback by tour guide Dennis Morgan, one of those names of the past it's the story of that great silent film star who spoke not a word, but barked on cue, Won Ton Ton. He starts out as a poor, but honest stray dog escaped from the pound and hooks up with hopeful Madeline Kahn who just wants a break in the film business. They in turn hook up with Bruce Dern a man who drives a tour bus, but when the bus makes a studio stop, Dern always rushes in to see producer Art Carney with yet another story idea. He has some good ones like a giant shark terrorizing a New England beach or a young adolescent girl possessed by the devil, just a bit ahead of the times. The rest of the film is simply boy and girl meet dog, boy and girl make dog a star, boy and girl lose dog. But for the rest you have to see the film. Dern, Kahn, Carney, and Won Ton Ton are wonderful and the Hollywood satire is funny. One thing however has lost its humor for me over the years. That's Ron Leibman playing the cross dressing Rudolph Valentino star of the silent screen. Knowing what I know now about transgender people and the struggles they face that whole character has lost the humor for me. Not ten years earlier Albert Dekker was found in women's clothes having hung himself and Jeff Chandler may or may not have been a cross dresser depending whether you believe Esther Williams's memoir. These people were in a lot of pain in their lives, so a cross dressing star isn't all that funny any more for me. Overlooking Leibman's character the rest of the film is nice and a great treat for those who want to see some stars of yesterday take another curtain call. For a few this was their last moment on the big screen.

What a mess. Michael Winner directed this supposedly affectionate ode to old time Hollywood that unfortunately is a just a woefully unfunny series of run ins with faded movie stars (and not the legendary types like Hepburn, Bacall and Mitchum...instead we get DeCarlo, Blondell and Calhoun!) The plot involves struggling starlet Madeline Kahn befriending an unusually smart German shepherd with both becoming the toast of the town thanks to no talent screenwriter Bruce Dern. Kahn and Dern are fine, but the movie has nary a funny line, cheap production values, and way too many unwelcome cameos. Some old-timers such as William Demerest and Aldo Ray speak more than one line, but most pop up and vanish quickly so if you don't know what the aged Ritz Bros. or Rhonda Fleming look like their appearances will be lost on you. Joan Blondell's cameo is actually pretty clever. Art Carney plays the crusty studio head and Teri Garr is pretty fetching as Kahn's room-mate. The always welcome Billy Barty and Ron Leibman also appear.

I saw this movie years ago, and really liked it. It got bad reviews and disappeared from view. I have not seen it on TV or video stores. Kahn was great and so were the many cameos. Give it a try if you can find it.

I'm not surprised that someone who was in high school when this came out didn't appreciate it. It is of course as much a farce as Mad Mad Mad Mad World, but it has become a cult film for old movie buffs, because it has the most impressive cast of old movie stars, supporting actors, bit players and celebrities of any movie ever made. Movie buffs and clubs have had parties where they show the film and have people list as many players as they can identify. Don't believe it? Mouse up the whole supporting cast and feast your eyes!