Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World

1973 British film

Charles Isaacs
Ted Key (novel)
Michael Pertwee

Produced byWalter ShensonStarring

Jim Dale
Angela Douglas
Spike Milligan

Narrated byTed KeyCinematographyHarry WaxmanEdited byJim ConnockMusic byEdwin Astley

Production
company

Walter Shenson Films

Distributed by

20th Century-Fox (UK)
Cinerama Releasing Corporation (US)

Release date

December 6, 1973 (1973-12-06)

(UK)^[1]

Running time

88 minCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World is a 1973 British children's fantasy-adventure comedy film starring Jim Dale, and directed by Joseph McGrath.^[2] A large supporting cast of British movie stalwarts includes Spike Milligan, Angela Douglas, Norman Rossington, Milo O'Shea, Dinsdale Landen and Victor Spinetti.^[3] The production included composer Edwin Astley and cinematographer Harry Waxman.^[2] The film was based on the 1960 novel The Biggest Dog in the World by Ted Key.^[4]

The film starred Fernville Lord Digby in the title role. Digby was then the reigning Dulux Old English Sheepdog; the company using the breed since 1961 in their advertisements that led to the breed's popularity around the world.^[5]

Plot

Accident-prone Jeff works at a NATO research facility as an animal behaviourist. He steals a tiny amount of Project X, but an Old English Sheepdog accidentally drinks it. X is a liquid growth formula (a form of experimental fertilizer) and Digby expands to gigantic proportions.

Cast

Jim Dale - Jeff Eldon
Angela Douglas - Janine
Spike Milligan - Dr. Harz
John Bluthal - Jerry
Milo O'Shea - Dr. Jameson
Norman Rossington - Tom
Richard Beaumont - Billy White
Dinsdale Landen - Colonel Masters
Garfield Morgan - Rogerson
Victor Spinetti - Professor Ribart
Harry Towb - Ringmaster
Kenneth J. Warren - General Frank
Bob Todd - The Great Manzini
Molly Urquhart - Aunt Ina
Frank Thornton - Estate Agent
Victor Maddern - Dog Home Manager
Sheila Steafel - Control Operator

Notes

^ Malcolm, Derek (6 December 1973). "Not-so-cheapskate". The Guardian. p. 14; "Theatres, Cinemas, Art Galleries". The London Daily Telegraph. 6 December 1973. p. 27.
^ ^a ^b "Digby the Biggest Dog in the World (1973)". Archived from the original on 18 July 2016.
^ "Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973) - Joseph McGrath - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
^ Gifford, Denis (1 April 2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. ISBN 9781317740636 – via Google Books.
^ "Video: Dulux dog returns to TV screens for first time in a decade". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2015.