Thursday, February 2, 2012

Martin Scorsese goes to bat for Dobermans

This year is the first annual Golden Collar Awards ceremony, on Monday, February 13. I'd heard about it peripherally, on Dogster first I think, because who doesn't like talking about dog actors? There aren't enough movies with Dobermans in them, though. Or rather, enough movies with Dobermans just as....dogs. Not slavering villains. Not menaces.

(not a menace)


My interest was really piqued, though, when I heard that Martin Scorsese was ticked off. See, this movie Hugo came out this last year (Based on the novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, which I confess I have not read yet, but do intend to. Eventually.) In the movie, there is a Doberman (whose real name is "Blackie", apparently. I'm not sure if that's registered name or call name) who, predictably, is used to menace children. I haven't seen the movie (yet) so I can't comment one way or another on the depiction. But, get this, Scorsese said, in an Op-ed column in the LA Times that the Golden Collar awards people were breedist, and that we've accepted antiheros in human actors and should in canines as well (paraphrased from said article. It's well written and I urge you to read it).

Scorsese called fans to action, asking that they went to the Dog News Daily Facebook page and demand Blackie be a write-in. Dog News Daily was sportsmanlike, and said something along the lines of "Sure, we'll include Blackie, for 500 votes." (paraphrased. I wasn't there). Need I mention that Blackie got the votes, in less than a day?

Go Blackie!

I really appreciate that Scorsese was willing to kick up a stink about this. The Doberman breed needs people like him in Hollywood!  Of course I have all kinds of questions about Blackie...what breeder she's from, her lineage, etc. Who knows, she and Elka might share relatives! 

17 comments:

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  2. I saw Hugo last weekend! I found myself totally loving all the canine actors (two long-haired Doxies and Blackie) and always happy to see them on-screen.

    Blackie, as it seems from the above, was the only Dobie in the movie (most cast several look-a-likes) and she definitely played her role very well. She plays the partner of a quirky station manager guy and is used as a tracker and guard dog. She has her precious moments, too, put in there as humor-enhancers -- one, most notably, in a bathtub with her partner. :) She was everything the Dobie breed is supposed to be, especially by Hollywood standards. I usually stay for the credits to make sure that the animals were used in conjunction with animal law, but didn't for this one. Even though I noted a few collar/leash corrections, I'd definitely say she was marker trained for her chase scenes and the like.

    My parents never wanted me to get a Dobie... but even they were singing Blackie's praises at the end of the movie. :)

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    1. Very cool! I do need to see it, but probably once it's on DVD. I don't go to the theater much!

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  3. Way to go Martin Scorsese! I will have to check out this film myself if there is a dobie in it!

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    1. Especially a Dobie whose director thinks so highly of her!

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  4. That's so cool! Movies are such powerful media for re-education about breed biases.

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    1. Yes, they are, and I want to see more movies with Dobermans, and more Dobermans allowed to be more than guard or police dogs (or villains)!

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  5. My owners get mad when dobies are villains in movies. The dogs everyone thinks are mean are really the nicest. Dobies are not on the top 10 bite list, but golden retreivers are.

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    1. I always wonder about people's stereotypes about dogs, and about bite lists. It doesn't help that the CDC website is clunky to get around on (they have a section on dog bites).

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  6. It is unfortunate that the bad stereotype of breeds such as the Doberman and Pit Bull are perpetuated in the movies. The same things happens to small dogs. Almost every small dog you see is portrayed as an aggressive yappy thing or some kind of helpless purse dog.

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    1. I'm not sure why it's hard for writers to have dogs as characters, rather than set pieces or accessories. And that counts both on the screen and on the page!

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  7. Elka, you are lovely! We're glad you stopped by.

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    1. Thanks very much! Glad you "followed us home" ^^

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  8. It's too bad "Blackie" had to play such a stereotypical role for a Doberman, but that isn't her fault. If anything, it shows just how talented she really is!

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    1. I do agree that Blackie's role is unfortunate (is that really her name? Am I the only one who wonders about this?) Apparently there's a cute and compelling bath scene, but I haven't seen the movie yet. I wonder if it's on YouTube (RIAA, disregard this comment).

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