Greyfriars Bobby (Disney) (1961)

RAGS-TO-RICHES DOG ENJOYS BEING YEAR’S BIGGEST CANINE STAR A little Skye terrier by the name of Tam O’Shanter is this year’s “Cinderfella” of dogdom. He’s a little ball of fur about the size of a lady’s muff. Like the rest of his breed and all of his first cousins, he has mischievous eyes — whenever you can see them through his waterfall of hair — an inquisitive nose and a tail that’s perpetually dancing. To an Englishman, he looks like a Yorkshire terrier. To an Australian, he couldn’t be anything but a Sydney Silky. But a Scotsman knows him for what he really is—a descendant of the smaller canines from the Isle of Skye. Such is the star of Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby.” Less than a year ago he was a stray roaming the streets of Chorley in the North of Scotland. Today, he’s living the life of Reilly as a movie star. One of the world’s most beloved dog stories, “Greyfriars Bobby,” lives again in this little 19-monthold terrier who was chosen by Walt Disney because of his uncanny resemblance to the dog in the story. The true story, which happened 100 years ago, concerns the loyal devotion of a pet who kept vigil at his master’s grave for 14 years. When filming of “Greyfriars Bobby” was completed, the little stray-turned-movie-star returned to his mistress in Northern Scotland. She is the daughter of a police sergeant who rescued him from the streets by paying a fee of 12 shillings — approximately $1.70. There in.a small Scotland town he lives today awaiting another call of the casting..director — if one should ever come. If not, Bobby doesn’t much care for he’s got plenty of biscuits in the doggie bank now—a good home with television which he loves, and, three squares a day. The tail still works fine too, as any of the neighborhood children will attest. On the human side, Disney’s “Greyfriars Bobby” stars Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alexander Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. Filmed in color by Technicolor in Scotland and at Shepperton Studios, England, it was directed for Buena Vista release by Don Chaffey. ©1961 Walt Disney Productions : Mat BOB 1B SMALL STAR WITH BIG TALENT... Bobby, a Skye terrier, takes stardom in his stride with the title role in Walt Disney's Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby,” starring Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. Walt Disney’s “Greyfriars Bobby” Stars Motion Pictures’ Amazing Donald Crisp With his starring role in Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby,” veteran actor Donald Crisp chalks up an incredible record. This is his 418th film. Crisp, whose list of personal achievements reads like the sum total of the history of the entertainment industry, has as varied and interesting a background as anyone on the Hollywood scene today. Best known by the public for his enormous number of roles, few people are familiar with the “believe it or not” facts about this amazing personality. He was once a director for the Bank of Italy, now the enormous Bank of America. He organized and set up the first financing of Hollywood films and to this day still serves in a consulting capacity with the mammouth bank on matters of motion picture money-lending. Crisp was assistant to D. W. Griffith on “The Birth of A Nation.” He was a motion picture set builder and has written and directed countless movies in his lifetime. He maestroed virtually every top star in Hollywood’s earlier days, including Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., Mary Pickford, John Barrymore and countless others. Of interest is the fact that he directed Barrymore in “Son of Zorro,” the first motion picture based on the life and exploits of this fabulous hero. “Zorro,” of recent years, has been the subject of one of Walt Disney’s important television series. During the first days of sound movies, Crisp was associated with the late Lionel Barrymore on a film Barrymore directed. Barrymore wanted a moving camera shot. It was simple enough to put the camera on a dolly and move with the actors — but what to do about the stationery microphone hanging on a chain from the ceiling? Barrymore instructed his property man to go to his car and bring his fishing pole. To this the two men strapped the microphone and with Crisp holding the cumbersome “boom” they thus accomplished Hollywood’s first moving camera shot. The fishing-pole innovation was the forerunner of today’s complex “mike” boom. Crisp was also one of the founders and first directors of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. He still serves in a consulting capacity. In Disney’s “Greyfriars Bobby,” he essays the role of Mr. Brown, dour keeper of the famed Greyfriars kirkyard where most of the story action takes place. As the sexton of the hallowed grounds, Crisp has the major human role in this famed tale that is one of the world’s immortal dog _ stories. Based on actual fact, it is the tale of a little Skye terrier whose enduring love for his dead master kept him on watch at the old man’s grave for nearly 14 years. Filmed at actual locales in Scot Mat BOB 1A DISTINGUISHED STAR . ... Donald Mat BOB 2A TALKING THINGS OVER . . , Donald Crisp attempts to explain the ways of the world to a persistent Skye terrier named Bobby in this scene from Walt Disney's Technicolor production, ‘Greyfriars Bobby.” The immortal tale of a devoted dog stars Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. WALT DISNEY | aro rey. MTAALS ‘BOBBY TECHNICOLOR® Crisp, adding another major portrayal to an illustrious career, stars as Mr. Brown, the kirkyard keeper, in Walt Disney's ‘‘Greyfriars Bobby.’’ The Technicolor feature also stars Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. Buena Vista releases. land — Crisp’s birthplace, incidentally — “Greyfriars Bobby” was directed for Buena Vista re lease by Don Chaffey. It stars Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alex Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. . DONALD CRIP : Starring LAURENCE NAISMITH ALEX MACKENZIE KAY WALSH Exciting New Camera Technique Used In Walt Disney’s ‘‘Greyfriars Bobby’’ For Walt Disney’s Technicolor production, “Greyfriars Bobby,” a new camera technique was devised to give the century-old backgrounds a time-mellowed look. Art Director Michael Stringer and Lighting Cameraman Paul Beeson, after spending many weeks researching in Scotland, came to the conclusion that the overall photography of the film required some radically new and different technique. Their whole impression of the “Greyfriars” story was one of a “time-mellowed period” and they wanted the film itself to impart this feeling. . First came the exact reproduction of 100-year-old settings of Edinburgh. Then, the pair devised a new system of motion picture lighting to make the sets appear like some master’s painting come to life. At first glance, “Greyfriars Bobby” appears as being “low-key”— or a film having a sub-normal amount of lighting. More properly, however, it is a film of tremendous depth on the giant screen. A record amount of light was used. But it was highly diffused, giving varying shades and tones even in distant backgrounds. The overall effect is like the long study of a Goya, and suddenly the amazing color and shading set apart the good from the bad; the happy from the somber. “Greyfriars” imparts this deep perception or “time-mellowed look.” In order to accomplish this varying-density lighting throughout, the immense power house at Shepperton Studios, England, was unable to cope with amperage requirements. This amounted to double that normally used for any other major production. A new power house was built on the Shepperton grounds to accommodate two extra generators. Extra arc lamps were rented from every other studio in England and more additional equipment was obtained from as far away as Munich and Italy. More than 250 high intensity arcs plus hundreds of smaller-powered incandescent lamps were used on single major settings. Walt Disney, Michael Stringer and Paul Beeson thus accomplished the effect they desired for “Greyfriars Bobby” and the Shepperton Studio settings match perfectly with those shot on actual locations in old Edinburgh, Scotland, and surrounding areas. “Greyfriars Bobby” was directed by Don Chaffey. Hugh Attwooll acted as Disney’s associate producer. The Buena Vista release stars Donald Crisp, Laurence Naismith, Alexander Mackenzie and Kay Walsh. | Director or Photography _ With ANDREW CRUICKSHANK ROSALIE CRUTCHLEY MOULTRIE KELSALL VINCENT WINTER JACK LAMBERT DUNCAN MACRAE GORDON JACKSON FREDA JACKSON JOYCE CAREY JAMESON CLARK BRUCE SETON JOAN BUCK HAMISH WILSON SEAN KEIR PRODUCTION STAFF Directed by Be DON CHAFFEY Screenplay by ROBERT WESTERBY __ From the story of Greyfriars’s = by . ELEANOR ATKINSON — Associate Producer .. ce HUGH ATTWOOLL | PAUL BEESON, B.S.C. RAY STURGESS ALBERT WHITLOCK . FRANCIS CHAGRIN ..MICHAEL STRINGER Costume Design | . ... . MARGARET FURSE Set Decorator VERNON DIXON Editor .. eee ..PETER TANNER Production Manager PETER MANLEY Assistant Director _.DENNIS BERTERA Make Up ... HARRY FRAMPTON Hair Stylist .. BARBARA RITCHIE Continuity : Sound Edit Casting . Dialect isor os. JOHN BRESLIN Sound Recordists SS : NORMAN BOLLAND | : : RED LAW _ Additional Photography Special Photographic Effects ................ Music _ and Conducted by Art Director .. Ca : Greyfriars” Bobby trained by John Darlys S ‘Filmed in Scotland | and at dios, London, England . Released by BUEN ISTA Distribution Co., inc. ©Wait Disney Productions. RUNNING TIME: 91 MINUTES