The Ugly Dachshund ** (1966, Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, Charles Ruggles) – Classic Movie Review 8580

‘A HAPPY HONEYMOON GOES TO THE DOGS!… When a Great Dane disguised as a Dachsie crashes the party! ‘

There is a lot of bark but little bite in director Norman Tokar’s amusing enough 1966 Walt Disney family comedy The Ugly Dachshund starring Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette as graphic designer Mark and his wife Fran Garrison, who decide on adopting an orphaned Great Dane and having it grow up among their dachshunds.

The Ugly Dachshund is OK for undemanding children and nostalgic adults. Jones and Pleshette, Charles Ruggles [Charlie Ruggles] as dog vet and trainer Dr J L Pruitt, plus cute sweet dachshunds, help to make it fairly fun.

Albert Aley’s screenplay is based on G B Stern’s book.

Also in the cast are Kelly Thordsen, Parley Baer, Mako, Robert Kino, Charles Lane, Gil Lamb, Hal Smith and Dick Wessel.

The Ugly Dachshund is directed by Norman Tokar, runs 93 minutes is made by Walt Disney, is written by Albert Aley, based on G B Stern’s book, is shot in Technicolor by Edward Colman, is produced by Walt Disney and Winston Hibler, is scored by George Bruns, and is designed by Carroll Clark and Marvin Aubrey Davis.

RIP Dean Jones (1931–2015).

RIP Suzanne Pleshette (1937–2008).

It was Dick Wessel’s final film. He died shortly after principal photography and Paul Frees voiced his part in post-production.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8580

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