A Dog Called Beethoven

Released in 1992, the American film Beethoven is about a family who become dog owners in a most unusual way. However, it isn't your usual Hollywood "cute puppy" plot - although the dog in the title undeniably falls into this category! The story also carries a serious message about dogs being stolen for profit by unscrupulous people.

The film was a massive commercial hit. Released by Universal Studios on a budget of $18 million, it grossed $147.2 million at the box office worldwide, further leading to a franchise of eight more Beethoven films and an animated TV series.

Characters and plot

Workaholic dad George Newton (played by Charles Grodin) has so far resisted the responsibility of owning a dog. However, after the theft of puppies from the local pet shop, everything is to change. One of them escapes the thieves and takes refuge at the Newton family home.

Initially, George still insists he doesn't want a dog, but his resolve is worn down by his wife Alice (Bonnie Hunt) and their three children, who are determined to keep the puppy.

The St Bernard soon proves very endearing and when he hears Beethoven's Fifth Symphony played on the piano, he barks along - hence his name becomes Beethoven. He has plenty of fun growing up with the Newtons, getting into many scrapes.



He has a habit of stealing the family's food off their plates when they're not looking, but George catches him and ends up with no bacon - and dog drool on his trousers! No matter what Beethoven does, the children and their mum adore him and keep trying to convert their rather uptight father, who is harder to sway.

Evil dog-napper

When Beethoven has to go to the vet's for his routine inoculations, his family have no idea that their veterinary surgeon Dr Herman Varnick (played by Dean Jones) is the evil mastermind behind the theft of pets for animal experimentation laboratories.

After recognising Beethoven as one of the stolen puppies who escaped, he devises a plan to trick George that the dog has bitten him, even putting fake blood on his arm. He convinces George that Beethoven is vicious and should be euthanised, lying that St Bernards are mentally unstable.

George decides to take his advice, but his wife and children refuse to speak to him when they find out, even leaving the dinner table when he sits down. Then, he remembers how his own father had their family dog euthanised when he was a child. George never forgave him - and suddenly, he's filled with remorse as he realises how much he loves Beethoven.

He rushes back to the vet's to try and stop Varnick from carrying out his wicked deed. Will he arrive in time to save Beethoven - and will the vet be exposed as a dog thief? (Spoiler alert - there were eight further Beethoven films, so you can draw your own conclusions).

Canine star

Beethoven was played by a 200lb St Bernard called Kris. Trained by Teresa Miller, he captured the hearts of cinema-goers with his lovable personality and antics.

After Kris retired from acting, his owner said that he enjoyed a long retirement, filled with being "lazy and drooly and hanging round the house".

Although Kris was the main canine actor, several different St Bernard dogs were also employed as Beethoven when certain skills were required.

One was called Benz and he was particularly good at physical activities and tricks. A female St Bernard called Dolly was great with children and puppies, while Boomer enjoyed scenes when he was covered in mud - he was also famous for drooling!

Although the films were family entertainment, they courted controversy, in particular in portraying a vet as a pet-napper. Some vets protested it showed their profession in a bad light. However, it was pointed out that it was just a film and not meant to reflect reality.

In 2010, a poll of cinema-goers voted Beethoven the viewers' favourite film dog ever, beating Old Yeller to the top spot.

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