*** If you missed this beloved animated classic at the Dietrich this morning, you can stream it on Tubi!***
Initial release date: November 17, 1989
Studios: United Artists-MGM/Goldcrest Films
Tagline: Nothing warms the heart like a cold nose
Plot: In this animated feature, casino casino owner Charlie is killed by gangster Carface, but returns to Earth from heaven thanks to the power of a magical, rewindable watch. Charlie sets out to take his revenge on Carface by means of an elaborate plan that involves an orphan girl, Annie-Marie. But as the plan progresses, Charlie discovers that Anne-Marie is being exploited by Carface. Charlie must decide whether to change his mission from one of revenge to one of rescue.
Cast
Burt Reynolds - Charlie B. Barkin
Dom DeLuise - Itchy Itchiford
Judith Barsi - Annie-Marie
Vic Tayback - Carface Carruthers
Charles Nelson Reilly - Killer
Loni Anderson - Flo
Melba Moore - Whippet Angel
Ken Page - King Gator
Godfrey Quigley - Terrier
Writer: David N. Weiss (Disney Plus' Disenchanted; The Smurfs 2)
Director(s): Don Bluth (Titan AE; Anastasia; The Pebble and the Penguin)
Gary Goldman (Titan AE; Anastasia)
Don Kuenster (Rock-A-Doodle)
Rated G (84 minutes)
With the Dietrich Theater showing the animated classic All Dogs Go To heaven as part of their Dietrich Film Favorite Series, I decided to give this movie another look. I honestly haven't seen this movie in YEARS and YEARS!
This 1980s animated movie is very likely on everyone's favorite animated movie list. All Dogs Go To heaven is something that the entire family could enjoy. There are some moments that are really funny and some of those moments are from the Charlie and itchy characters. Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise also did a great job voicing these characters!
Even though it's a cartoon movie, there are a few moments that can get really dark. It's also nice to see Charlie change after spending some time with the little girl Anne-Marie. After re-watching this beloved film, you can easily feel nostalgic and probably remember watching it as a kid!
And the ending of this animated classic will really have you feeling moved and maybe a little teary-eyed. If you miss this movie during its showing at the theater, you can stream this classic and its sequel on Tubi.
Here are some fun tidbits for All Dogs Go To Heaven!
This was Judith Barsi's final film. She and her mother were killed by Barsi's father a year and a half before the film's release. The ending theme, Love Survives, is dedicated to Barsi's memory.
MGM shortened a scene involving Charlie in Hell to avoid a possible PG rating. Don Bluth owns a private version of the uncut film that has never been released on home media.
Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise, who had developed a rapport after starring in several movies together, insisted that Dom Bluth leave the room during recording sessions so that they could improvise off one another better. Bluth agreed and allowed them to ad-lib extensively. Bluth later commented "their ad-libs were often better than the original script."
Don Bluth was so heartbroken over the death of Judith Barsi that he based Anne-Marie's design and mannerisms on here, to honor her memory and cope with the loss.
The film was inspired by It's A Wonderful Life (1946), Little Miss Marker (1934) and A Guy Named Joe (1943).
The radio show The Phantom that the puppies are listening to is an homage to the real 1930s radio show The Shadow with Orson Wlles.
The earliest idea was conceived by Bluth after finishing The Secret of NIMH. The treatment was originally about a canine private eye, and one of the three short stories, making up an anthology film.
Dissatisfied with the terms imposed by Universal, which had distributed Bluth's previous two films, they found an alternative distributor in United Artists. Somewhat unusual, production investors Goldcrest Films covered the cost of the release prints and the promotional campaign, in return for a greatly reduced distribution fee from United Artists.
The film opened in North American on November 17, 1989 and grossed $27 million domestic, just half of what Bluth's previous films (An American Tail; The Land Before Time) each took. This would be Bluth's final box office hit until Anastasia was released eight years later in 1997, which ended up being his highest grossing film.
The success of the film, particularly its home video performance, prompted several follow up productions. A theatrical sequel, All Dogs Go To Heaven 2 (1996), a TV series, All Dogs Go To Heaven: The Series 91996-1998) and An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998).
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