This is yet another short from Jacques Tourneur made when he was still learning his trade. The Pete Smith series from MGM was a stepping-stone for more than one future technician though in themselves they were mostly pedestrian with the toneless narrative from Smith himself not helping matters. On the other hand they did compress a story to its essentials and wrap the whole thing up in a couple of reels. This is a typical example. A beloved pet dog is accused of killing sheep and is literally put on trial giving a new meaning to the term Sheepdog Trials. Evidence is presented and it looks open and shut but in his wisdom the judge agrees to a practical test. The dog is turned loose at night, makes his way to the sheep pen and there collars (sorry about that) the coyote who has been framing him. Tourneur completists will want to check it out.
9 Reviews
I Wouldn't Hang A Dog On This Evidence
boblipton13 November 2021
A Smith called Pete narrates the tale of a dog who is accused of killing a neighbor's sheep. The evidence is that the dog left his home about the time the deed was done; that his sire was a sheep killer; and he is scratched. On the other side, there's a little girl who loves her dog, and her father is insistent that justice be done.
They used to hold trials for animals in the Middle Ages. For example, on September 5, 1379, some pigs were put on formal trial for killing two men. There were cases of rats being sent letters to leave a house, and locusts were held legally responsible for eating crops. Most of these cases were tried in ecclesiastic court. So to see a judge in a court room, with a prosecutor making an argument here is a bit odd, and well worth making a short about.
Like Pete Smith's shorts, it's all acted as a silent film, with Smith's narration telling us what's going on.
They used to hold trials for animals in the Middle Ages. For example, on September 5, 1379, some pigs were put on formal trial for killing two men. There were cases of rats being sent letters to leave a house, and locusts were held legally responsible for eating crops. Most of these cases were tried in ecclesiastic court. So to see a judge in a court room, with a prosecutor making an argument here is a bit odd, and well worth making a short about.
Like Pete Smith's shorts, it's all acted as a silent film, with Smith's narration telling us what's going on.
another Pete Smith shortie
ksf-211 April 2019
Pete Smith and his monotone voice describe the adventures of various farm dogs; first, we hear about vicious dogs, accused of attacks. Sad moments on the farm, and not all is well in the country. then, we observe another dog saving the life of a child. court time, as the dog is on trial. since the attacks on farm animals have started up again. dog trials are pretty unlikely in our time, but maybe it's possible back in country farm life. pretty serious stuff, for a short from 1936. meh.... it's a filler, shown on Turner Classics. a lesson in doing the right thing.
I appeared in this film when I was a child actress
sibyllemarks28 June 2004
I saw this movie right after it was released and I found it very exciting. Probably because it is exciting to see yourself on the screen.
I appeared in several movies from 1935 to 1941. Killer Dog (which was a silent) was one of them. My screen name was Sally Martin. I have a few still photos of myself in this movie. If anyone knows of an existing copy of this film - in any form - I would very much like to obtain a copy. I recall an exciting scene in which I am playing with my dog and I fall into the path of my mother pulling the car out of the garage. My dog pulls me from the path of the oncoming car. I was heavily padded on one side so the dog could grab me with his teeth. He never hurt me. I finally received a copy in 2005 thanks to Turner Classic Movies. This is being added later...I have now obtained a copy. Thanks to all that helped me.
I appeared in several movies from 1935 to 1941. Killer Dog (which was a silent) was one of them. My screen name was Sally Martin. I have a few still photos of myself in this movie. If anyone knows of an existing copy of this film - in any form - I would very much like to obtain a copy. I recall an exciting scene in which I am playing with my dog and I fall into the path of my mother pulling the car out of the garage. My dog pulls me from the path of the oncoming car. I was heavily padded on one side so the dog could grab me with his teeth. He never hurt me. I finally received a copy in 2005 thanks to Turner Classic Movies. This is being added later...I have now obtained a copy. Thanks to all that helped me.
This live action short totally overlooks the fact that dogs are . . .
tadpole-596-9182562 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
. . . a dime a dozen, making them the main course of choice in most Asian nations. Ironically, KILLER-DOG seems to be set Down Under, which has historically been one of the main exporters of canine meat to regions such as China. Koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and the platypus all are endangered, because they compete with dog farms for real estate. " "M. Streep" had it backwards when she screamed "A dingo ate my baby!" In Real Life, an Aussie is much more likely to demand "WHO ate my dingo?!" Though "Betty Lou" (sounds like a "Dr. Seuss" character!) has named her mutt "Major," most folks down under do not even bother bestowing monikers on their short-lived meat. Who can blame them for this oversight, when a large canine rancher might be running herds of 10 or 20 thousand mongrels "on the hoof,' so to speak? Fans of PARTS UNKNOWN will be anxiously waiting to see RIN TIN get tinned at the conclusion of KILLER-DOG. (Spoiler alert:) No such luck!
Did he or did he not?
Horst_In_Translation15 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"Killer-Dog" is an American black-and-white live action short film from 1936, so this one is already over 80 years old and it was directed by prolific French filmmaker Jacques Tourneur and the narrator you hear in here is 2-time Academy award winner Pete Smith. Well.. at that point he was justg a nominee. This one we have here is the tale of a dog names Major, son of a calm and gentle female dog, but also son of a wild and savage wolf, so it is not clear which of the two is his real self. oh well, it somewhat is as we see the dog as a puppy and how it grows up next to a young girl. It is as harmless as it gets. Actually a life saver as we find out during the scene when the doll gets run over. Okay that scene was almost a bit too much admittedly. A bit cringeworthy honestly. But yeah while this dog seems like a saint, at the same time a flock of sheep gest attacked by a wild animal and the attacker hurt himself on the fence and Major has a wound that fits and also he ran away the night it happened. So was it him or not? Well, this is the first question here. the second question is will he be killed for what he may have done. Another question would be will he live despite having done it and get away or will he be killed despite being innocent, which seems like the more likely of these two scenarios. atch for yourself how things turn out. If you care. You're honestly not missing much if you decide to skip. Anyway, near the end it becomes clear that he will either be a hero or be killed because he did it, so justice will be served 100%. Which of the two is it? Spoilers coming up. Of course, the former. They send him again to the sheep and see if he would attack them again. But no of course at the exact same time (wow what a coincidence haha), the coyote appears who attacked the sheep the other night as well and it's a fight between life and death for these two, good vs. evil. Several question stay though. How did they even get the idea it was Major? And more importantly, why would they think the coyote did it 100% only because he was there the second night? And why oh why did Major know (twice!) that the coyote would come? It is a feel-good film towards the end yes and the "general" joke isn't bad, but lets be honest here, there is virtually no realism to the story here whatsoever. This is why it is simply impossible for mte to give this movie a positive recommendation. And I am glad it was this short, even if the suspense was not elaborated on badly. You should skip the watch nonetheless. Besides, it feels a bit unusual to see a dog in a 1936 short film that is not a cartoon dog. That's all, folks!
The Tale Of A Dog
Ron Oliver11 October 2001
An MGM PETE SMITH SPECIALITY Short Subject.
Major, the beloved farm hound of little Betty Lou, is accused of being a KILLER-DOG after sheep on a nearby farm are found mauled.
This tightly-plotted little story is a good example of the early American work of director Jacques Tourneur, who would gain fame in the 1940's with his horror films at RKO. Any dog lover in the audience will empathize with Major's sorry legal plight.
Movie mavens should recognize an unbilled Ralph Byrd, later famous as Dick Tracy, playing Betty Lou's father.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something like writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
Major, the beloved farm hound of little Betty Lou, is accused of being a KILLER-DOG after sheep on a nearby farm are found mauled.
This tightly-plotted little story is a good example of the early American work of director Jacques Tourneur, who would gain fame in the 1940's with his horror films at RKO. Any dog lover in the audience will empathize with Major's sorry legal plight.
Movie mavens should recognize an unbilled Ralph Byrd, later famous as Dick Tracy, playing Betty Lou's father.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something like writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
The real culprit
jotix1004 May 2006
Major, a dog of mixed blood, is the faithful companion of a young girl living on a sheep farm with her parents. The farm is owned by a man who is trigger happy whenever something goes wrong . Major's father was a ferocious breed that mated with a peaceful collie producing a gentle dog that responds to the girl as though it was human. We even witness Major saving the girl when her mother's car almost ran her over.
When a few sheep are found killed by what appears to be Major, the owner of the farm thinks Major is the culprit since he bears a scar on his rump, something he thinks the dog did when he tried to go under a barbed wire fence. The young girl and her parents are horrified when they realize the dog will be put to death. Rather than give up, the parents ask to have a judge decide the dog's fate.
Major, the gentle dog, is proved innocent when the real culprit is found as everyone keeps an eye on the pen at night.
This is another one reeler by Jacques Tourneur, a director who went to do bigger and better things. Mr. Tourneur shows he knows how to get the most out the thin material out of the story.
When a few sheep are found killed by what appears to be Major, the owner of the farm thinks Major is the culprit since he bears a scar on his rump, something he thinks the dog did when he tried to go under a barbed wire fence. The young girl and her parents are horrified when they realize the dog will be put to death. Rather than give up, the parents ask to have a judge decide the dog's fate.
Major, the gentle dog, is proved innocent when the real culprit is found as everyone keeps an eye on the pen at night.
This is another one reeler by Jacques Tourneur, a director who went to do bigger and better things. Mr. Tourneur shows he knows how to get the most out the thin material out of the story.
Nice Little Story
Michael_Elliott28 October 2009
Killer-Dog (1936)
*** (out of 4)
Nice short from MGM and Pete Smith has a dog put on trial for the murder of a couple sheep. It turns out that the dog, Major, has some wolf blood in him and his own father had to be shot for killing sheep. The dog eventually has to go on trial where he has to be defended by his owner (Ralph Byrd). This is a pleasant little short that manages to tell a pretty good story that doesn't try to do anything special except to just entertain. I thought the story was a good one that managed to keep the viewer wondering if the dog was innocent or guilty but I think everyone will know the outcome. The ending is a pretty good one as Tourneur's dark style is evident in a very good sequence that I won't ruin for anyone reading this. Byrd is best known for the role in various DICK TRACY movies but he's quite good here even though he doesn't get any speaking lines. Babs Nelson is also in the cast and she's best remembered for being one of the folks who led their voices to Bambi.
*** (out of 4)
Nice short from MGM and Pete Smith has a dog put on trial for the murder of a couple sheep. It turns out that the dog, Major, has some wolf blood in him and his own father had to be shot for killing sheep. The dog eventually has to go on trial where he has to be defended by his owner (Ralph Byrd). This is a pleasant little short that manages to tell a pretty good story that doesn't try to do anything special except to just entertain. I thought the story was a good one that managed to keep the viewer wondering if the dog was innocent or guilty but I think everyone will know the outcome. The ending is a pretty good one as Tourneur's dark style is evident in a very good sequence that I won't ruin for anyone reading this. Byrd is best known for the role in various DICK TRACY movies but he's quite good here even though he doesn't get any speaking lines. Babs Nelson is also in the cast and she's best remembered for being one of the folks who led their voices to Bambi.
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