Rueiro Review of A Dog of Flanders

A Dog of Flanders (1960)

I would wish I had seen it thirty-five years ago.

[8/10 · 27 December 2015]

The classic Japanese cartoon series, first broadcast in Spain in 1979-80, still remains a part of my childhood. Every Sunday lunchtime I would follow Nello's adventures in our black and white TV set and wouldn't miss it in the world. After one whole year and fifty-two episodes Nello and Patrashe died together in the night of Christmas Eve, at Antwerpen cathedral, alone, hungry and frozen to death in what must be the most devastating ending of all time to a children's tale. I must have cried rivers. I can't remember. Many years later, when I learnt that there was a film adaptation made by Hollywood in the late 50s, I sought it out eagerly. I finally got a copy at HMV, about four or five years ago. It is disappointing though that it is a rather mediocre edition, presented in TV format instead of the original Cinemascope in which the movie was shot –as listed in the technical features section in the film's page -, and with a rather depreciated image quality with very strong colours and a bit of a blurred image. It looks just like it was transferred from an old VHS edition back from the 80s. But well, this is better than nothing. I watched it again yesterday after a long time, and for 95 minutes I was a young boy again. I am glad –even though I usually am against drastic changes in the plot of film adaptations from classic novels- that Nello and Patrashe do not die at the end and that there still is hope for them. Nello is to be taken by the painter as an apprentice and so he will fulfil the greatest dream of his life. A very beautiful film, entirely shot in location in the unique Flemish landscapes and the medieval town of Antwerpen. A beautiful score, a gorgeous cinematography and art direction, and a perfect cast with David Ladd –a boy actor who could actually act, and who was the spitting image of his father, the great Alan "Shane"- as the gentle and sensitive Nello, good old dear Donald Crisp (How Green was my Valley, National Velvet) as the grandfather, and Theodore Bikel as the grumpy and apparently cold and soulless artist that nevertheless will save the day and Nello's life. A charming little film that teaches children to love animals, and about the values of compassion, humility, honesty and the pursuit of one's dreams.