''My Dog Shep'' is a 1946 American

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

film directed by

Ford Beebe Ford Beebe (November 26, 1888 – November 26, 1978) was a screenwriter and Film director, director. He entered the film business as a writer around 1916 and over the next 60 years wrote and/or directed almost 200 films. He specialized in B-movi ...

. It was made by Golden Gate Productions and released through the newly-formed

Screen Guild Productions Lippert Pictures was an American film production and distribution company controlled by Robert L. Lippert. History Robert L. Lippert (1909-1976) was a successful exhibitor, owning a chain of movie theaters in California and Oregon. He was frustrat ...

. They had just made ''

Flight to Nowhere ''Flight to Nowhere'' is a 1946 American film noir crime film directed by William Rowland and stars Alan Curtis (American actor), Alan Curtis and Evelyn Ankers. ''Flight to Nowhere'' was one of the first postwar productions to deal with the atom ...

''. Filming started August 15, 1946.

Greg McClure Greg McClure (1915–2012) was an American actor. His most notable film role was as John L. Sullivan in The Great John L. (1945) but in most of his twenty films he had only bit parts, often as a soldier or a boxer. He signed a contract with Golden ...

was meant to be in the cast. Lanny Rees was borrowed from

RKO RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheu ...

Plot

Danny, an orphan, tries to find a home along with his dog, Shep. He goes to live with a mean Uncle Matt but loving Aunt Carrie. Cousin Arthur squeals on him that he secretly has been keeping a German Shepherd that he named Shep. Danny runs away with his dog. Elderly Carter lives with his son who overhears his daughter-in-law bitterly complaining about him. Carter tells his son he will move to the Soldier's Home and leaves that same day. Along the road Danny and Carter cross paths and join up. Both were not wanted where they lived and they bond. Uncle Matt was happy Danny was gone until an attorney arrives and tells him Danny is to inherit $100,000. He now offers a $500 reward to find Danny Barker and his dog, Shep. Carter sees the reward in the paper and Danny tells him he does not want to return to his uncle's farm. While Carter is in town for supplies, he sends a telegram to the estate attorney. The Sheriff now has a way to find the boy. While Danny is swimming, he is discovered by tomboy Lorna. Her Dad is the District Attorney and she is kidnapped to affect a gangster's indictment. Danny is kidnapped as well but Shep tracks them down. Carter saw the kidnappers and the Sheriff is following him to get the boy so all together they are successful rescuing Lorna. All the parties are in the judge's chambers to discuss Danny's adoption. Uncle Matt now wants the boy for his money and his mean character is exposed. Carter explains he was not aiding a runaway. He did not seek the reward. He and Danny and his dog found comfort with one another. The Judge decides the DA family would be best for Danny. As they leave the Court, Shep goes up to Carter to pull him back with Danny and he is welcomed into the new family as well.

Cast

Reception

The film was popular. Flame, the dog who starred in the film, went on to star in '' Out of the Blue'', the ''Rusty'' series of movies (starting with ''

For the Love of Rusty ''For the Love of Rusty'' is a 1947 drama film directed by John Sturges. It was the third of the "Rusty" film series involving the adventures of German shepherd Rusty and his human companions - young Danny Mitchell (Ted Donaldson) and his pals. ...

''), and the ''My Pal'' series of shorts. He was also in the sequel, ''

Shep Comes Home ''Shep Comes Home'' is a 1948 American film written and directed by Ford Beebe for Lippert Pictures. It was a sequel to ''My Dog Shep'' (1946). Cast *Flame as Shep * Robert Lowery as Mark Folger * Billy Kimbley as Larry Havens *Martin Garralaga ...

'' (1948).

References

External links

* * *
''My Dog Shep''
at BFI {{DEFAULTSORT:My Dog Shep 1946 films American black-and-white films 1946 drama films American drama films Lippert Pictures films Films about dogs Films about pets Films directed by Ford Beebe 1940s English-language films 1940s American films