The Ugly Dachshund

"Take away rion!"
"That's not a lion, that's a dog."
"You call THAT, dog?"

When her Dachshund has puppies, Fran Garrison (Pleshette) hopes that one of the puppies will be a champion.  Her husband, Mark (Jones) is less thrilled.  Their vet, Dr. Pruitt (Ruggles), asks Mark to take in a Great Dane puppy that is pushed away by it's mother.  The puppy, who Mark names Brutus, is raised with the Dachshunds and thinks he is one.

"Demolition squad? Well what about that, that wrecking crew of yours?"

As the puppies grow, Brutus is blamed for any and all disasters at the house.  As they prepare for a big party at the house, he scares the party planner Mr. Toyama (Kino) and his nephew Kenji (Mako).  Will the party go off without a hitch, and will Mark be forced to give up his dog?


This film is a family favorite.  My dad loves the film, so we grew up watching it.  Our version was recorded from a TV showing of the film.  There were a few other short movies on the tape.  Somehow, it managed to survive my childhood... then when I was in college there was a film that I needed to see for a class project.  My loving mother used The Ugly Dachshund tape to record the movie, and in the process taped over The Ugly Dachshund... it was tragic (not that it matters anymore, because I don't currently have a VHS player).

Anyway, this film served as another vehicle for Disney favorites Dean Jones (The Love Bug, That Darn Cat, etc.) and Charlie Ruggles (The Parent Trap).  Jones was paired with Suzanne Pleshette.  Their pairing was successful enough that Disney coupled them again in Blackbeard's Ghost.  Jones is great in this film (but I have yet to see a Disney film that he did not excel in), but Pleshette's character can be a tad unlikeable.  The film also features small parts for other Disney regulars and other character actors.   And the dogs are adorable, especially as puppies.

Watching the film 40+ years later, the characters are Mr. Toyama and Kenji are caricatures of Asian stereotypes... but they are also my favorite characters.  The party is my favorite scene, beginning when Mr. Toyama arrives at the house until the next morning cleanup.  Toyama and Kenjji are funny and the party is just a disaster waiting to happen... but it's fun to watch.  Another enjoyable, classic, family film from Disney!

The Ugly Dachshund (1966) 93 minutes
Director: Norman Tokar
Starring: Dean Jones as Mark Garrison
Suzanne Pleshette as Fran Garrison
Charlie Ruggles as Dr. J.L. Pruitt
Kelly Thordsen as Officer Carmody
Parley Baer as Mel Chadwick
Robert Kino as Mr. Toyama
Mako as Kenji
Charles Lane as Judge