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✯ Heroes of the Northwest ✯
Since the first major Hollywood movies casting dogs in the starring roles, like Baree, Son of Kazan (1918) and The Silent Call (1921), the dog of the wilderness concept became ubiquitous with dog movies and canine movie stars. Strongheart, Rin-Tin-Tin, Peter the Great, and nearly all of the early German Shepherd Dog stars played at least one wolfdog, dog raised by wolves, or dog serving humans in the Northwest—such as sled dogs, prospectors’ dogs, or crime-fighting partners of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
This adventure genre, with its brave, almost supernatural archetype hero dogs, and rugged human male leads, was so popular from the 1920s through the 1950s, it deserves its own page. Many of the stars were German Shepherds, many were based on James Oliver Curwood or Jack London novels, but variations on plots and dogs kept stories interesting enough for viewers to come back for more.
Luckily, many of these old films have found DVD or digital release for the first time and can be enjoyed by a new generation of reel dog enthusiasts.
There is even a novel, Shadow of the North, which takes a satirical look at the films and lives of these dogs and trainers in Hollywood during the 1930s:
✯ The Movies ✯
Here are some highlights of the wilderness genre from early feature films to the 1980s.
The Return of Grey Wolf (1926)
Renfrew Of The Royal Mounted (1937) (series)
Snow Dog 1950 (part of series)
Northwest Territory (1951) (part of series)
Nikki: Wild Dog of the North (1961)
The Courage of Kavik, the Wolf Dog (1980)
The title links will take you to Amazon movie pages (Reel Dogs earns a referral fee at no cost to you) or, for rarer titles, alternative sources for the films.
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The wild dog of Australia, the dingo is not known for acting abilities. Feelings against them run high in their native land, as exemplified in the few films in which they appear, where they are sheep-chasers, human-hunters, and even baby-killers. The only hero dingo ever in a live-action feature film, Buckley’s Chance (below), is not even played by a dingo. Still, it’s a start! (Also see Kelpie movies, and Koolie movies, and Australian Cattle Dog movies.)
The title links will take you to Amazon movie pages (Reel Dogs earns a referral fee at no cost to you) or, for rarer titles, alternative sources for the films.
Australian Dingo * Year: 2019 * Country: Australia * Dingo content: Unconfirmed
Unsure if this short film actually features any dingo.
Buckley’s Chance * Year: 2021 * Country: Australia/Canada * Dingo content: See note
No true dingoes in this film, but it is about a boy who befriends a dingo and Sunny (as “Buckley”) turns in a great performance. Well worth a watch for any dingo fans.
A Cry in the Dark * AKA: Evil Angels * Year: 1988 * Country: Australia/US * Dingo content: Low
Only a few quick shots of dingoes, yet the whole film revolves around them. This film is the source of the famed line, “A dingo ate my baby!”
Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann * AKA: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared * Year: 2013 * Country: France/Germany/Sweden * Dingo content: See note
Surely this dog, seen very briefly on a ship’s deck in the above freeze-frame, is a mixed-breed, although identical to a true dingo, right down to the white feet. You be the judge!
Kangaroo Jack * Year: 2003 * Country: US * Dingo content: Low
Napoleon * Year: 1995 * Country: Australia/Japan * Dingo content: See note
Again, there are no actual dingoes in this film, but a domestic dog plays one toward the end of the film who makes a good substitute opposite the starring Golden Retriever puppy.
Quigley Down Under * Year: 1990 * Country: Australia/US * Dingo content: Low
It’s hard to watch the dingo scene in this film, in which their body language on the set is clearly uncomfortable and they are jerked violently backward with wires to simulate gunshot wounds.
The Sundowners * Year: 1960 * Country: Australia/UK/US * Dingo content: Low
With a starring Kelpie and a dingo in a scene.
Walkabout * Year: 1971 * Country: Australia/UK/US * Dingo content: Low
Know more Dingo movies? Please send info to moviedogs@gmail.com. Thank you!
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The coyote is one of North America’s most persecuted mammals, relentlessly hunted, trapped, and poisoned to this day. They are also one of the most adaptable and intelligent. In the 1960s and 1970s Walt Disney Pictures made a series of coyote films with their animal trainers’ socialized coyotes which highlighted both this persecution and unique qualities of a maligned wild canine. Many films below are from Disney’s anthology series, sometimes called the Wonderful World of Color or Magical World of Disney depending on date, but generally remembered as The Wonderful World of Disney.
The title links will take you to Amazon movie pages (Reel Dogs earns a referral fee at no cost to you) or, for rarer titles, alternative sources for the films.
The Beast of Yucca Flats * Year: 1961 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
This B movie shows a coyote tied up at a roadside exhibit.
Beverly Hills Chihuahua * Year: 2008 * Country: Mexico/US * Coyote content: Low
This very nervous-looking coyote plays a “coyote”. Only in one quick scene.
The Big Bus * Year: 1976 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
A satire of the popular disaster films of the time, and still funny if you are familiar with those types of old movies, the story follows a nuclear bus made by Coyote Bus Line (spoofing the Greyhound logo) called the Cyclopes 180. In one scene a real coyote is led through a crowd, including marching band. The coyote is clearly terrified, trying to escape the leash in this thankfully brief scene.
Carlo, The Sierra Coyote * Year: 1974 * Country: US * Coyote content: High
A lonely coyote befriends a lonely woman who believes in feeding wildlife in this Wonderful World of Disney TV movie.
Chico, The Misunderstood Coyote * Year: 1961 * Country: US * Coyote content: High
Depressing for a Disney film, with Chico struggling for his life against ranchers, hunters, and a roadside zoo owner from beginning to end.
The City Fox * Year: 1972 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Coyote in the San Francisco zoo.
Concho, the Coyote Who Wasn’t * Year: 1966 * Country: US * Coyote content: High
Another persecuted coyote in a Wonderful World of Disney film, this one with ambitions to be a sheepdog.
A Country Coyote Goes Hollywood * Year: 1965 * Country: US * Coyote content: High
Lots of unique coyote footage in this Disney film.
Courage of Lassie * Year: 1946 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Only a glimpse along with much other wildlife.
Deacon, the High Noon Dog * Year: 1975 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Coyote in one scene, while a wolf plays a central part. The main two dogs are small mixed-breeds.
A Dog’s Way Home * Year: 2019 * Country: US * Coyote content: See note
The coyote pack is played by dogs and CGI, without real coyotes.
Greta, The Misfit Greyhound * Year: 1963 * Country: US * Coyote content: Medium
A disturbing Wonderful World of Disney film in which a Greyhound chases down, trips, and attacks coyotes. Also with a Border Collie.
Harley’s Hill * Year: 2013 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Only one scene with a coyote.
The Journey of Natty Gann * Year: 1985 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
The star wolf (played by Jed) fights away coyotes from a chicken coop, then is blamed for the threat.
The Jungle Book * Year: 1942 * Country: UK/US * Coyote content: Low
A glimpse of coyotes playing the jackal “Tabaqui”. Stressed out wolves get much more screen time. The coyotes had to be tied down on the jungle-decorated soundstage to get this shot.
King of the Grizzlies * Year: 1970 * Country: Canada/US * Coyote content: Low
The Legend of Cougar Canyon * Year: 1976 * Country: US * Coyote content: See note
This has a wolf, but an odd-looking wolf with very large ears and a cinnamon muzzle. Possibly coyote cross?
The Missing * Year: 2003 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Mountain Born * Year: 1972 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Also featuring wolves and two Border Collies.
The Nashville Coyote * Year: 1972 * Country: US * Coyote content: High
One of the best of the series of Walt Disney coyote movies, in which the coyote in question actually has fun for at least part of the time and manages to befriend some of the humans and canines he encounters—even if many others want to hunt him down!
Nomads of the North * Year: 1920 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Many wild animals were filmed on set for atmosphere in this first movie adaptation of the classic James Oliver Curwood novel. The coyote is only seen for a moment.
Off the Map * Year: 2003 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Ramrod * Year: 1947 * Country: US * Coyote content: See note
After earning $100 for his coyote’s appearance in Smoky (see below), Teg Riggs found another job for Butch in Ramrod, filmed around Zion National Park. The production team needed Butch’s collar off to film so they replaced it with a thin wire around one leg. Butch escaped this on the first evening and made his way to a nearby poultry yard where he was shot by a turkey farmer. No footage of him made it into Ramrod, but you can see him below.
Scenic Route * Year: 2013 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Smoke * Year: 1970 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Based on a novel about a boy and German Shepherd Dog. Never commercially released on DVD.
Smoky * Year: 1946 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
In the summer of 1945 a government hunter in Arizona named Teg Riggs adopted a coyote he called Butch. Butch lived on a 20-foot chain for much of his short life, but one day landed a movie part in which all he had to do was crouch in the long grass, thereby frightening the title character: “Smoky” the horse. This is the only shot of Butch in the film, but he was contracted for another movie part in Ramrod (see above).
Their Only Chance * Year: 1975 * Country: US * Coyote content: Medium
Want to see a coyote riding a motorcyle? You’ve come to the right place! In this rare film a young man rescues injured and orphaned wild animals, including his pet coyote, “Nuisance”.
Werewolf of London * Year: 1935 * Country: US * Coyote content: Low
Only a glimpse at the zoo. Also wolves.
Know more Coyote movies? Please send info to moviedogs@gmail.com. Thank you!
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