Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale

Plot synopsis:
Wal Footrot (John Clarke) and Cooch Windgrass (Peter Hayden) are shearing sheep on Wal's farm. Cheeky Hobson (Fiona Samuel), Wal's girlfriend, is driving on the highway when she is driven off the road by the Murphy brothers, Spit (Brian Sergent) and Hunk (Marshall Napier), flying in a helicopter. The Murphys then terrorise Wal's property, leaving Dog (Peter Rowley) to drown in a sheep pit. As he is in the water, he has a flashback of when he was a little pup: how he was united with Wal for the first time, a gift from Aunt Dolly (Dorothy McKegg), and how he met Jess, who was nearly drowned by Spit and Hunk. Soon, Wal wakes Dog and Cooch and the dogs manage to foil the Murphys, who were in the process of capturing Cooch's deer.
Later, Wal finds Rangi Jones (Rawiri Paratene) and Pongo Footrot (Fiona Samuel) playing catch with a rugby ball, and so he joins in to coach them. After a while, Rangi and Pongo tell Wal about an All Blacks selector coming to watch an upcoming rugby match, and Wal daydreams about being an All Black. Over the next few days, Wal works out and goes on a date with Cheeky. Wal takes her to an untidy caravan restaurant selling fast food, run by Pawai (Billy T. James). Dog bursts in on them, thinking that Cheeky is trying to poison Wal, but ends up ruining the dinner after Cheeky vows never to see Wal ever again.
Wal leaves Dog tied up outside as punishment, and Dog is later attacked by rats but is rescued by the resident stray cat, Horse. It begins to rain heavily, and Jess is knocked out of her box and is lost somewhere near the Murphy's. Meanwhile, the Murphys, under the direction of Irish (Peter Hayden), steal Cooch's stag under the cover of darkness. While Wal tries to move the bull, Wal's goose tries to bite Wal on the butt (a running gag) and Rangi and Dog try to move the sheep, Rangi notices that Jess is gone. He tries to get help from Wal who refuses, his only concern being to play in the rugby game. Rangi and Dog decide to go looking for Jess themselves but are later separated. Rangi decides to go and get help from Wal, while Dog goes and looks for Jess, literally following in her footsteps. As the storm starts dying down, Cooch goes to feed his deer, but notices his stag is missing.
The next day, Rangi still tries to get help from Wal, but Wal wants "His Big Chance" to become an All Black, and so drives to the local rugby pitch with both Rangi and Pongo. During both the drive and the game (played against the Mill team and their star player Spit Murphy), Rangi tries to come up with a plan to get Wal to the Murphys'. When one of Wal's players are sent to the hospital wing, Rangi chooses to play with Wal in order to steal the ball and get Wal to follow him. When Rangi grabs the ball and runs off, Wal follows him, but only because Pongo mentioned that the Murphys stole Cooch's stag, after eavesdropping on their conversation.
Meanwhile, Dog finds Jess under attack by rats, led by their leader, Vernon the Vermin. Soon, while running from the Murphy's dogs, Dog kills Vernon with a log. Rangi hitches a ride on the top of the Murphy's van and later arrives at the Murphy's farm. Rangi is captured by Irish Murphy and locked in a shed. Irish decides to kill Dog, Jess and Horse by following them to the river with a gun. Wal and Pongo arrive. Pongo goes to help Rangi, while Wal chases after Irish and Wal's goose chases after Wal. Spit Murphy tries to help by taking the helicopter, but it's destroyed and Spit is captured by Pongo and Rangi. Irish manages to shoot Horse, while Wal swings in to get Murphy. First he falls in a mud pit, then he saves Irish from drowning and then finally ends up getting bitten "on the freckle" by his goose.
Dog saves Jess from crocopigs, with the unconscious Horse on the raft. Later, they float to a bridge, where Wal, Pongo and Rangi attempt to bring them up. Fortunately, Rangi manages to get a hold of Jess, but misses Dog and Horse. They pick up Cooch and decide to try down the beach, but no luck. They all leave, with the exception of Jess. After they leave, Jess starts barking, so Wal, Cooch, Pongo and Rangi turn back. Dog and Horse, now recovered, are still alive and arrive at shore.
The movie ends with Dog and Jess walking past Major, Wal's pig dog, with puppies in tow.

Tags: romantic

Review:
An animated classic.
One of the few non-disney animation films that are truly great.
This story of rural New Zealand follows the adventures of a farmer, the local kids and a dog- Dog. The only animated feature new zealand has ever produced is a classic.
Exciting, hilarious, scary it has everything.
The unique style of the comics works well on film and the atmosphere created by the dingy colours at some times is truly immersing.
See this movie now!.
A ground breaker.
This film was an amazing event when it was released in New Zealand.
Footrot Flats has for several decades been New Zealand's most popular and best loved journal cartoon strip.
Murray Ball's characters are household names to millions of Kiwis around the world, and this film gave them living character, voices, movement.
The film was celebrated immensely and rightly so as, made as it was with that unique NZ quality that comes with our movies, it had cartoons speaking with Kiwi accents that weren't forced or too Australian, NZ scenary, NZ themes that captured the rural environment of the day - everything about it was, and to many people no doubt still is, very familiar.
The film has Dog - the real-life inspiration for whom died a few years back which received national media attention - saving Jess, his bitch, and starting a family, trying to keep Wall and his girlfriend Cheeky apart, and discovering the meaning of being alive, as well as the human menaces of his life living their simple existences.
A must for all patriots of Aotearoa, anyone who's lived on or spent time on a farm out the back of some place here or there, or anyone who loves good quality animation..
One of a Kind.
This movie was bloody excellent - sorry but its almost like a opening line by Wallace Footrot.
Anyways They are releasing this movie on DVD for the first time in almost 20 years on November the 9th, 2005.
The movie set the scene for many New Zealanders or as we call them Kiwi's.
It shows the life on the farm, as well as the sport that many Kiwi's love, Rugby.
the life of a jealous dog who loves his owner and Loves his owner to love him.
The trials and tribulations of a Dog, and owner relationship, with the beautiful animal lover neighbor, his pet cat, named horse who is ferocious and a fine example or a fine male dominant cat.
We can forget the many others in this movie as well.
Slice of 80s.
This film was indeed a big hit when it came out in the mid-80s.
I watched it again recently for the first time since seeing it on the big screen, and was suprised at how different my perception was of it as an adult rather than a kid.
As a kid I don't remember the awful synth music being quite so awful, yet of course this can be put down to the decade which spawned it.
The voice of the dog was also far too weak and naieve, and was the script, I didn't feel that it captured the dog's character as I imagined it having grown up reading the Footrot Flats cartoons.
Aside from the script and soundtrack though, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie again.
The backgrounds are great and really capture the dark gritty feel of rural New Zealand.
The animation is good and the rugby scenes are funny and really capture the end of an era - farmers dreaming of being All Blacks, not for money but for glory.
The days before the All Blacks donned Adidas shirts.
I think that if the soundtrack was re-recorded and some of the script changed this A Dog's Tail could be re-released and make a comeback in the theatres.
However as a slice of 80s it is a pristine example as it is..
Great Movie.
I have to say that this is one of New Zealand's greatest movies.
Unlike "Lawless", "Xena", "Hercules" and the like, this movie proved that New Zealand can do animated features.
The soundtrack is great - personally I like Oughta Be In Love and Slice of Heaven.
Good on ya Murray Ball and my Dog Rest in Peace..
A good cartoon film showing New Zew ealand life.
A great piece of work by New Zealand cartoonist Murray Ball.
This shows New Zealand culture at its best.
Most people will think of xena when they think of New Zealand entertainment but this is really a piece of art..
this would be so great if it was remade!
or even a sequel.
Truth is I did keep an open mind, but i could see that despite the heart of this movie it wasn't enough to hide the missing a few basic film making essentials.
I laughed but it was usually when no one else was, kids and parents around laughed a little more robustly so i maybe jaded, anyway I feel that...Too many cutaways were missing, to tie things together and make it a sweeter experience.Characters needed just a little more development to give them some character.Script needed tightening as did some scenes.(wal dancing to 'outta be in love') The most defined and likable characters were RANGI and HORSE, Jess was likable enough but needed a little more attitude and more screen time.best voice over was RANGI(rawini prating) I recommend this if you have kids, are a kiwi or want to know about NZ and kiwis or if you are a farmer or want to know about farmers..
I'm a Brit....
...and A1+++++, I loved this kid's movie!
It's entertaining down-on-the-farm happenings are brilliantly brought to life through the late great Murray Ball's creations.
Get the 1986 movie now on DVD; it's a true keeper for kids of all ages!.
Warm moonlight over our horizons.
Vale Murray Ball - and thank you TV3 for screening this homage to a bygone era.Yes it's dated, sexist, homophobic and probably racist to boot, but there's still something quintessentially endearingly cheerful about this snapshot in time of a bygone age.Our heroes face Homerically impossible odds against the evil forces of the Murphys, rats, wild pigs, the weather and anything else you can think of - but time after time they snatch victory from the jaws of defeat - this is the kind of spirit that led to the invention of Number 8 fencing wire, this is New Zealand....
This old girl has not aged well at all..
Beautifully drawn but Clunky, economical animation and an abysmal home made soundtrack, Its most damming mistake was to almost completely ignore the subtle and endearing humor of the original comic strip.
The story was at its best when it was more true to its origins.
There was just way to much noise,action, fight and chase sequences.
Not to mention the most annoying helicopter ever animated.
Another sore note is the under use of Dave Dobins "Slice of heaven".
A missed opportunity considering what a great song it is.In context and at the time it was released it was popular and its seemed New Zealand was saying to the rest of the world, "watch this space" 3/10.
Footrot Flats.
I am quite happy with the way Murray Ball has put together such a great movie.
I am a girl I know but I love football...
The soundtrack to go with the movie just made the movie so much better.
I do agree with the annoying helicopter noise and not enough of the song Slice of Heaven.
But have bought it and is in a special collection.
Congratulations to all cast and crew for a great job....
A movie that will never die for me...
I watched the making of the movie and it was the best part of the DVD.
Seeing the characters are really based on actual people.
They have made the details so accurate it is unbelievable.
Don't judge the movie until you watch the making of the Footrot Flats.
Considering how old the movie is, it is still so popular.
Wal was my best character as he reminds me so much of an average every day guy, but he is still so romantic.
My other favorite character is dog.
The biggest sook but still a mans best friend.
I hope everyone enjoys the movie as much a I did..
Wish this was better.
As a Kiwi who grew up with this comic strip, I looked hard to find this film which few stores in my part of Australia seem to stock.
However, I was disappointed in the results.
The film tries to fit far too much in, and lacks a coherent plot.
Where's the resolution of the dog drowning in the sheep dip?
What about the 'breakup' between Wal and Cheeky?
My kids watched the film and frankly were bored.
It just goes to show that a great comic strip doesn't necessarily work as a film.
I also thought the soundtrack was lame, especially when Wal (voiced by the always excellent John Clarke) suddenly breaks into song with the high-pitched tones of Dave Dobbyn - a voice that would have been much more suited to the dog.
Let's face it, if this wasn't a Kiwi animation with nostalgic value for many of us, it would be a complete bomb