That was heartbreaking. But his owner was old, and he was old, and they were good for each other. It drives me crazy every time I see this film. Didn't anyone think of giving the old dog a bath? Less trouble to just shoot him in the head, I guess.
Paula Jo
I guess you're watching this right now on TCM like I am. Yea, I remember reading the book and watching this film in high school and the scene where the old dog got shot always broke my heart as well.
The big problem in the movie is that the dog is obviously healthy and happy. It was poor casting.
shareBut the dog did great in his auditions.
Short Cut, Draw Blood
It was bad casting.
In the book the dog is a sheepdog, with no teeth (so it can only drink milk for food), that is almost blind.
This dog in the movie looked happy and healthy - but then,
in the movie Curley's wife was also not a flirt (to many men, all the while not having sex with her husband) and a vicious racist, she was a lonely, sympathetic character....
Watching it now
Don't understand why Slim allowed Bill to keep pushing the idea of shooting the dog
You can see he doesn't agree with it. None of the people in the bunkhouse agreed
In a world where a carpenter can be resurrected, anything is possible.
That scene had to show the regret he felt not doing it himself. It also set up the ending. George and the old dog, one who didn't have anything to offer society, had to be made to show the parallel idea.
shareI haven't read the book, can't stand Steinbeck's writing style but in this film it felt like that man only shot the dog to bully the old man.
shareIt is sad..I am a big, big dog lover (wth accent on bigh, though I love small ones0
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