My Dog Skip
A simple story told in a simple voice-over narrative style, the movie My Dog Skip traced the life of a Jack Russell Terrier, Skip, from puppyhood to old age.
It also followed the life of Willie who grew up together with Skip and eventually outgrew his canine companion. Without much in the way of sensational scenes, this movie still worked its magic. Some of the best things in life, and some of the most memorable, too, are simple things.
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In 2000, Alcom Entertainment and MDS Productions produced the movie My Dog Skip which was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. This movie was based on an autobiography of the same name by Willie Morris which Gail Gilchriest adapted to the screen and Jay Russell directed. Frankie Muniz played Willie Morris while his parents, Jack and Ellen, were played by Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. Skip, the Jack Russell Terrier, was played by Enzo. Enzo’s real father, Moose, played Skip in old age.
The Jack Russell Terrier got its name from the Reverend John Russell who was an avid hunter. In 1819, Reverend Russell bought a small white and tan female terrier named Trump which became the ancestor of all Jack Russell Terriers thereafter. This breed is a working dog and has retained its signature characteristics over two hundred years with hardly any change.
Shape-wise, the Jack Russell Terrier is rather box-like being as tall as it is long. It is quite a small dog measuring only 10 to 15 inches at the withers but it is sturdy, tough and tenacious. Its coat is basically white with black and/or tan markings. The tail is held high and used to be docked at about five inches.
Temperament-wise, the Jack Russell Terrier is very active and, if not properly obedience-trained, can be stubborn and aggressive. Certainly not a suitable companion for couch potatoes. Generally, it would still have plenty of energy to burn long after its human companion calls it a day.
There are many famous Jack Russell Terriers. The most recognizable would be Nipper which was the model for the painting “Dog looking at and listening to a Phonograph”. This painting had been used by a number of companies in the music industry including The Gramophone Company and EMI. Another famous Jack Russell Terrier was Bothy which was the first dog to have traveled to both the North and the South Pole.
On April 29, 2007, a Jack Russell Terrier named George sacrificed its life in the protection of five children against two pit bulls. George was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal and a bronze statue was erected to its memory in Manaia, New Zealand. The PDSA Gold Medal was the animal equivalent of the George Cross.
In the movie My Dog Skip, Skip was not a super dog with unusual abilities. It was just a dog that Willie’s mother bought for him to keep him company when Willie’s best friend, Dink Jenkins, played by Luke Wilson, left their small town of Yazoo City, Missouri, to join the army. However, just being ordinary was good enough. Skip was at Willie’s side through his awkward adolescence. They had great times together bonded by the special relationship which brings together any boy who was fortunate enough to have a dog. Of course, it was not always smooth sailing.
Like at the recruitment office, where Willie tried to convince the officer in charge that Skip would make an outstanding addition to the armed forces. Skip just wouldn’t follow Willie’s commands. When Willie said “Sit”, Skip sprawled on the floor. When Willie commanded “Play dead”, Skip spun around chasing its own tail. Probably Skip was not too keen to be sent to the war front and did that on purpose to avoid being drafted.
The movie came to a close with Willie leaving for university. The last scene of Skip, now played by Moose, Enzo’s father, lying on Willie’s long unused bed, looking wistfully at the baseball glove gathering dust on the shelf, was full testament to the truth dogs never forget their human companions.
This movie was dedicated to the memory of Willie Morris who died just a few days after the filming was finished. He managed to see a preliminary screening of the movie in New York but did not live to see the final version.
The My Dog Skip DVD is recommended viewing in memory of all the dogs that loved us without reservation and got left behind when we moved on in life.
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