Tearjerker! Bette Davis Says Goodbye to Her Dogs in 'Dark Victory'

 

'Dark Victory' is a classic Hollywood tearjerker in which Bette Davis plays a rich socialite who learns she is dying of a brain tumor. (SPOILER) She'll know the end is near when she goes blind, the doctor has told her, so when she's gardening and thinks the sun has gone down, she realizes she's only got minutes to live. She sends her best friend away and then summons her two springer spaniel dogs. 

I remembered it that they go up to bed with her and are with her at the end, but she sends them away too after a brief farewell. If you're a softie like me, you're already sobbing at this point, so the fact that her dogs aren't with her makes that moment that much sadder. *sniff* You can watch the scene here, starting at the 5:00 mark.

Beginners: A Man, His Dad and Their Dog

I advise all dog lovers to see 'Beginners,' a lovely new independent film starring Ewan McGregor as Oliver, who's dealing with his elderly father, Hal (Christopher Plummer).

Hal's dog, Arthur, a very expressive Jack Russell, is an integral part of the film: Oliver becomes his caretaker when his father is hospitalized with pneumonia. His father's health declines and Oliver finds himself with Arthur full-time. They both enjoy each other's companionship, but both are grieving. Oliver can't ever leave Arthur alone (pitiful crying ensues each time he tries it), so he ends up taking the dog to a party with him, where he meets Anna (the beautiful Mélanie Laurent of 'Inglourious Basterds'). The two begin a tentative relationship and Arthur is there every step of the way.

Oliver has commitment issues, not least because he learns his parents marriage was a sham: After his mother's death, his father tells him he's gay and is going to start leading an out gay life at age 75! And so he does, becoming a busy gay activist and finding himself a hot boyfriend.

This is a sweet and poignant film, full of very real moments, and the audience I saw it with "Awwed" at many of the scenes involving Arthur. It's also very sad in spots (don't worry, the dog is fine!) and at least one friend of mine found it too slow.

I really enjoyed it its quirky approach and the realness of its characters. And, of course, Arthur! (Whose real name is Cosmo, a 9-year-old who was also in 'Hotel for Dogs' and 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop.' His trainer, incidentally, worked with the late Moose, best known as 'Frasier's Eddie.

Daylight: The Weimeraner in the Tunnel

THE MOVIE: 1996 disaster movie, Daylight

THE CAST: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Stan Shaw, Viggo Mortensen

THE PLOT: A deadly explosion in the Holland Tunnel traps several survivors: Sylvester Stallone tries to get them out alive.

THE DOG: A Weimeraner named Cooper, who had belonged to the late son of the Trillings, played by Colin Fox (pictured) and Claire Bloom.

DOES THE DOG DIE?No! He's not able to follow them at one point but he miraculously reappears and is rescued along with the remaining humans.
DO PEOPLE DIE? Yes, several in the initial explosion, then more fall victim to the treacherously dangerous tunnel

The Cassandra Crossing: The Basset Hound That Kind of Saves the Day

THE MOVIE: 1976 disaster film 'The Cassandra Crossing.'

THE CAST: Richard Harris, Sophia Loren, Martin Sheen, and Ava Gardner.

THE DOG: A basset hound named Iago, which belongs to Ava Gardner

THE PLOT: The dog is one of the first passengers on board a train who is exposed to a terribly infectious disease. In efforts to evacuate Patient Zero, only the dog ends up being evacuated.

DOES THE DOG DIE? (Highlight following text to read the spoiler). No! The dog seems near to entering a coma but miraculously recovers. The doctor monitoring the dog realizes the disease is not necessarily deadly.

DO PEOPLE DIE? Yes, a great many.

Six Dogs Who Saved Christmas

1. Olive the Other Reindeer
When one of Santa's reindeers is injured, little Olive journeys to the North Pole to offer her services as a substitute. Santa is skeptical at first but not only can Olive fly, she i.d.s the mean mailman who's been sending Santa hate mail and sniffs the bandit down to retrieve Santa's bag of toys. GOOD DOG. You've earned those antlers!



2. Max, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Who can resist Max, the lovable pooch who reluctantly helps the Grinch steal Christmas from the Whos, but who gets gooey at the sight of a Whoville holiday? If it weren't for Max's iceberg-melting smile, would the Grinch's heart have grown three times that day?


3. Santa's Little Helper, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire"
Homer's attempts to drum up some Christmas cash at the track fail miserably and he dreads returning home empty-handed. But then, a Christmas miracle happens after all: The losing dog he bet on, Santa's Little Helper, is abandoned by his owner, giving Homer and family the best Christmas present of all: A dog (and a scrap of dignity).


4. Lady, Lady and the Tramp
Although he didn't know it at the time, disaster was averted when John Dear gave Darling little Lady as a Christmas present. They got a dedicated guard dog in the cocker spaniel, who goes on to save her master's baby from a vicious rat. And with Tramp and pups joining them under the tree the next Christmas, it's a jolly holiday indeed.




5. Zero, The Nightmare Before Christmas
"There goes Christmas!" sobs the blobby little Halloweentown boy when a thick fog makes it impossible for Jack Skellington's skeleton reindeer team to take off. But then Jack remembers Zero's glowing Jack-O-Lantern nose and the day is saved! Of course, it's still up to Sally and the real Santa Claus to save Christmas from Jack's ill-advised hijacking, but still, for a minute there, Zero did save Christmas.



6. Snoopy, A Charlie Brown Christmas
Sure, Snoopy can play every animal in the school play, but doglike devotion isn't exactly in his repertoire. An already glum Charlie Brown despairs, "My own dog, gone commercial!" when he sees Snoopy's over-the-top entry in a Christmas decoration contest. But Snoopy's decked-out dog house comes in handy when the sad little tree Charlie has picked needs sprucing up. And our favorite beagle's part of the chorus "Ooh-ooh-oohing" the closing Christmas carol. Awwww. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!