Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World
A 1973 British fantasy comedy about a giant dog.
Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World is a 1973 British children's film that blends fantasy, adventure, and comedy. Jim Dale stars in the lead role, with Joseph McGrath directing. The story comes from Ted Key's 1960 novel *The Biggest Dog in the World*. A host of well-known British actors fill out the cast, including Spike Milligan, Angela Douglas, Norman Rossington, Milo O'Shea, Dinsdale Landen, and Victor Spinetti.
The title role is played by Fernville Lord Digby, who at the time was the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog. The company had used the breed in its advertisements since 1961, helping to make it popular worldwide.
The plot follows Jeff, an accident-prone animal behaviourist at a NATO research facility. He steals a small amount of Project X, a liquid growth formula meant as an experimental fertilizer, but an Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks it. The dog, Digby, then grows to gigantic proportions. Authorities and scientists rush to find a way to shrink him back to normal size before he causes more destruction. Throughout the film, Digby's innocent nature and comic antics keep him charming despite his enormous size, and he is eventually given an antidote that returns him to his normal size.
- title
- Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World
- year
- 1973
- country
- United Kingdom
- genre
- Children's fantasy-adventure comedy
- director
- Joseph McGrath
- starring
- Jim Dale
- based_on
- The Biggest Dog in the World (1960 novel) by Ted Key
Lore & Background
The film stars Fernville Lord Digby in the title role, who was then the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog. The Dulux company had used the breed in their advertisements since 1961, leading to the breed's popularity around the world. The plot follows accident-prone Jeff, an animal behaviourist at a NATO research facility, who steals a tiny amount of Project X, a liquid growth formula that is a form of experimental fertilizer. An Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks it and expands to gigantic proportions.
Reader's Guide
Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World is notable as a family film from 1973 that capitalizes on the popularity of the Dulux Old English Sheepdog breed. The film's premise—a dog growing to enormous size after consuming an experimental growth formula—provides a comedic and innocent adventure. The production included composer Edwin Astley and cinematographer Harry Waxman. The film's significance lies in its representation of a beloved advertising mascot in a feature-length story, and its place within the British children's fantasy genre of the early 1970s.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the 1960 novel The Biggest Dog in the World by Ted Key.
- The title role was played by Fernville Lord Digby, the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog at the time.
- The Dulux company had used Old English Sheepdogs in their advertisements since 1961.
- The film's composer was Edwin Astley and the cinematographer was Harry Waxman.
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