Plot
A slobbering St Bernard dog becomes the center of attention for a loving family but its vet secretly wants to kill him.
Release Year: 1992
Rating: 5.2/10 (20,808 voted)
Director:
Brian Levant
Stars: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones
Storyline The Newton family live in their comfortable home, but there seems to something missing. This "hole" is filled by a small puppy, who walks into their home and their lives. Beethoven, as he is named, grows into a giant of a dog... a St Bernard. Doctor Varnick, the local vet has a secret and horrible sideline, which requires lots of dogs for experiments. Beethoven is on the bad doctor's list.
Writers: John Hughes, Amy Holden Jones
Cast: Charles Grodin
-
George Newton
Bonnie Hunt
-
Alice Newton
Dean Jones
-
Herman Varnick, D.V.M.
Oliver Platt
-
Harvey
Stanley Tucci
-
Vernon
Nicholle Tom
-
Ryce Newton
Christopher Castile
-
Ted Newton
Sarah Rose Karr
-
Emily Newton
David Duchovny
-
Brad
Patricia Heaton
-
Brie
Robi Davidson
-
Mark
Laurel Cronin
-
Devonia Pest
O-Lan Jones
-
Biker Woman
Nancy Fish
-
Miss Grundel
Craig Pinkard
-
Homeless Man
Taglines:
He'll grow on you.
Release Date: 3 April 1992
Filming Locations: 1405 Milan Avenue, South Pasadena, California, USA
Opening Weekend: $7,587,565
(USA)
(5 April 1992)
(1688 Screens)
Gross: $57,114,049
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
So incensed were the American Veterinary Association about the depiction of a vet as leader of a dog-napping ring, they fired off a letter of protest to Jack Valenti, head of the Motion Picture Association of America.
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes:
When George comes into the house during a rainstorm. You can see clear sunny skies outside.
Quotes: George Newton:
[Taking Beethoven to the vet to get put to sleep]
My Dad had to take my dog to the Vets to be put down and I hated him for it.
User Review
Fun, with a GREAT dog!
Rating: 7/10
We are dog lovers and had been meaning to watch some of the Beethoven
series for quite a while. We found a DVD collection of all five at a
good price so we snapped it up and sat down for the first installment.
We honestly didn't know what to expect so, to minimize our risk of
disappointment, decided that we were only watching to enjoy the St.
Bernard. The movie turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, easily
exceeding those expectations.
Beethoven is the star, as he should be. The human cast, however,
perform wonderfully in providing the light framework required to string
Beethoven's scenes together. Charles Grodin especially shines as the
dad who is, at first, not exactly enthused about getting a dog. Much
less a monster dog who only drools and sheds and eats.
So, if you enjoy dogs and light-hearted fun, Beethoven won't
disappoint. There are no Machiavellian plots or cruel content. The
family is wonderfully good, the villains are comically bad and the
suspense of their threat is enjoyable because you know, Beethoven's
gonna win in the end.
Overall, very charming with a good, wholesome sense of humor. 6.5 out
of 10.
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