The Talking Dog

The Talking Dog

August 27, 1956 Theatrical Series Maggie and Sam

Studio
Walter Lantz Productions
Distributor
Universal Pictures

Synopsis

After crimping and saving, Maggie finally has accumulated enough money to pay off the mortgage. She gives the money to Sam, and as he leaves the house with the money, tightly held in his right hand, she tells Sam to be careful. While heading to the bank to pay off the mortgage ("Remember, if you lose that money, we lose our home," says Maggie), Sam meets a con man who suckers him into buying a supposedly talking dog. Angered at her husband for buying such an animal, Maggie tells Sam to try and get the talking dog a job or not bother coming home. After the sale, the dog is so disgusted that he talks to Sam. Sam manages to get a talent agent to hear the dog talk. The talent agent signs the dog to perform opera at the Met. But a cat enters the concert hall, and the dog chases the cat and wrecks the concert hall. The con man buys the dog back for a profit, and the dog refuses to talk. Sam and Maggie lose their home, and they are forced to sleep in a vacant lot.

Characters

Maggie, Sam, Con Man, Dog

Credits

Directing

Director
Alex Lovy

Producing

Producer
Walter Lantz

Writing

Writer
Homer Brightman

Voices

Voice
Grace Stafford (Maggie), Daws Butler (Sam, Con Man, Dog)

Music

Music
Clarence Wheeler

Animation

Animator
Ray Abrams, Laverne Harding

Crew

Settings
Raymond Jacobs, Robert Givens

Reviews

Talking Dog

absolutpaulSeptember 6, 2002

While not quite a classic, this one was made in the tradition of Tex Avery, who had previously made 'Crazy Mixed Up Pup'. This one reprises Maggie, Sam, and Daws Butler's deadpan dog ("You disagreeable wench!") Best Line: "If he's a talking dog, why do you want to sell him?" "Well, pal.....he talks too much!"