As you may know, I love awards shows. Therefore, there could only be one theme to this week’s No Frown Friday: the Academy Awards!
- Your punny pet names are based on some of this year’s nominees: Jesse Eisenbark, Colin Furth, Bark Ruffalo, Catalie Portman, and Helena Bone-ham Carter.
- Not sure the Oscars are for you? There’s always the Dogscars instead. What do you think are the best dog movies of all time? (You know I like to be inclusive, so here’s a quiz about movie cats and a movie filmed by cats. Yup, you read that right.)
- Speaking of favorite dog movies and favorite dogs in movies, here are a few lists of dog movies to get you started. Some of my favorites? Best in Show, Lady and the Tramp, and The Fox and the Hound. That’s by no means an exhaustive list of my favorites, however. Put your thinking cap on and tell me yours in the comments – I’ll meet you there!
- There have been some great movies featuring animals over the years. How much do you know about them? Take this quiz, and then learn more about animal stars, including shelter animals who ended up in show business.
- The American Humane Association makes sure that onscreen animals are kept safe and treated well. AHA publishes some interesting behind the scenes stories on its website, like this one about the horses on the set of one of this year’s Best Picture nominees, True Grit. AHA also publishes reviews regarding how each movie performs on AHA’s rating scale. I looked up two more of this year’s Best Picture nominees, both of which received an outstanding rating: The Fighter and The Social Network.
So, which film do you think should win Best Picture? I’m pulling for The King’s Speech – I promise it’s not just because there were Corgi cameos throughout.
Interesting note: apparently the AHA was very unhappy that The King’s Speech used its trademarked phrase, “No Animals Were Harmed” because the AHA was not involved in monitoring or rating this British production. However, the issue was resolved – sounds like the real problem was use of the trademarked phrase, and all animals were treated humanely.
Serious interlude over… let the debate about the best dog movies ever begin!
"Best in Show" absolutely rules! But recently, "Dug" in "Up" has got to be my favorite dog character in a film.
I'm so with you on awards shows, Pup Fan. Looking forward to Ann Hathaway and James Franco hosting this year's Oscars!
Somehow, I got terribly behind on seeing the nominated films. I still have to see The King's Speech, True Grit and Black Swan. Ack!
Have a great weekend!
-Chandra at Daley's Dog Years.
Our Fave is, "Wallace and Gromit, Curse of the Were-Rabbit"
Wyatt
Omg "Best In Show" is the best! So hilarious
We're so glad you like awards – We have just left one for you on Banjo & Millie because we enjoy reading your posts! Hop on over to Banjo and Millie to read about it. 🙂 Woof!
I love that list of dog movies! I've seen most of them and loved all of them. Homeward Bound was one of my favorites along Best in Show. Lots of love, Holly and mom
LOVE the punny names (I always do)! I just watched Best In Show for the first time a few months ago and thought it was so funny. We finally entered the world of Netflix and that was one of the first movies I watched. I especially liked the "God Loves a Terrier" song.
Elyse and Riley
My favorite dog movie is "Lady And The Tramp" and anything starring LASSIE!!
LOVED best in show!
Best In Show is my favorite dog movie, but fave dog stars are Dug from Up and Fly from Babe.
We adore Best in Show at our house. So awesome and funny. I worry sometimes that our family is those dog people.
Dog movies are hard for our Mama to watch because the dogs always seem to die at the end. Mama loved Benji when she was little and she even had a stuffed Benji! We also loved Beverly Hills Chihuahua!
I love Homeward Bound – its a great movie and I always cry when I watch it!
I love Best in Show but it's much more about the people than it is about the dogs.
My all time favorite dog movie is Babe. Yes, I know it's about a pig but it's also about the dogs. Oh, and My Dog Skip. It's a real gem and I know so few people who have seen it.
Great dog puns. I haven't seen many movies this year so I'm at a loss to add any more. But I don't know how I could ever top Helen Bone-Ham Carter. Yay!
Brian – yes, Toto rocks!
Chandra – I can't believe I forgot Dug! I do love him so.
Wyatt – Excellent choice! That duo always cracks me up. 🙂
Banjo and Millie – Thank you so much – you're too sweet!
Holly and Dee – I still remember the first time I saw Homeward Bound as a kid. I loved it!
Elyse – I can't get enough of the terrier song either.
Caren – Good call on Lassie! Such a beautiful dog.
Karen and Pamela – I love that you both picked Babe! The dogs in that movie really are awesome. I haven't seen My Dog Skip yet, but I'm moving it up on my to do list.
Trixie, Lily & Sammy-Joe – Benji is awesome! He's so darn cute too.
Thanks for the pun love, everyone. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who finds them funny!
Oooh, did you mention movie dogs? Our ALL TIME favorite is EDWARD, the most excellent Cardigan Welsh Corgi in The Accidental Tourist (he is THE BOMB); we even talk about him here: http://chroniclesofcardigan.blogspot.com/2011/01/accidental-cardi-fool.html
Happy blog hopping!
Jon Farleigh and Dewi
Bark Ruffalo – LOVE that actor! Naturally, our fave movies are Snow Dogs, Eight Below, Iron Will, and, of course, Balto!
Great and fun post!!!
I loved Fox and the Hound, though I still bawl my eyes out every single time. I cry a little just thinking about it. If I ever have a hound, I am totally naming him Copper.
What a great list of links. I am going to have some fun checking them all out.
This year, I haven't actually seen any of the nominated films, other than the animated ones. Is that sad? I don't even have kids.
Happy Saturday!
I grew up on Lassie, but more the TV shows than the movies… Lassie became my "ideal" dog and my first dog was a collie! Also add Best in Show to the list, and, UP! … SQUIRREL!
Old Yeller is my Daddy's favorite and My dog Skip. Mama is a a Benji fan.
Grandma says that she banned Lassie from Mama because Mama gried to hard. She can't watch Old Yeller for the same reason.
Hopping by.
My three girls absolutely loved Hotel for Dogs, even though it was hokey, schmaltzy, implausable, improbable, impossible, and anything else you could think of of! But the dogs were SO cute!
Best in Show is one of my favorite movies of all times, with or without dogs. Hilarious!
I'm back to give you your own award. I'm passing along the Stylish Blogger Award to you. Please stop by Something Wagging This Way Comes to pick it up.
And congratulations! Start working on a punny acceptance speech.
did you mention movie dogs? Our ALL TIME favorite is EDWARD, the most excellent Cardigan Welsh Corgi in The Accidental Tourist