Sunday, December 11, 2011

Give the Dog a Bone



Since he has already won the (unofficial) Cannes Palm Dog award maybe the Oscar for Best Actor is not that far fetched. The canine in question is Uggie, the adorable Jack Russell terrier who steals the scenes in the melodrama/musical/comedy/silent pic The Artist (Weinstein Company).

Uggie with co-star Jean Dujardin
According to The Wrap, there is a movement afoot to nominate this season's sidekick who plays the faithful four-legged companion to silent film star George Valentin (played by actor Jean Dujardin). An Oscar campaign has been mounted on the website Consider Uggie and the little guy even has his on twitter and Facebook campaign to support the cause. Can't blame a dog for trying. And as the campaign points out, Uggie is eight years old and you know what they say about age in Hollywood...it's either now or never.

"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. Demille"
 Apparently his Oscar winning performance was fueled not by method acting but sausages from Dujardin's pocket. (Note: he shared the role with two other Jack Russells but did the majority of the scenes). Perhaps he took his acting cues from another famous screen terrier, Asta from The Thin Man series. One can only imagine the acceptance speech.

Bow tied and ready on the red carpet at Cannes

Asta with Myrna Loy and William Powell in The Thin Man 
Good luck Uggie and remember the old adage -- anything can happen in Hollywood. Just remember all the little dogs you left behind at the kennel and don't relieve yourself in the limo.

Thanks to all of you who came to my lecture at the Corcoran in DC and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Spielberg was filming his new biopic Lincoln in the Richmond area where I was staying and look forward to seeing how they turned the Capital into the Lincoln White House. Based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book Team of Rivals, the film stars Daniel Day Lewis (who is in complete method mode and living by candlelight while there), Sally Fields as Mary Todd Lincoln and James Spader, David Straithairn and Tommy Lee Jones in supporting roles.

Daniel Day Lewis in character




Photo Credits: The Weinstein Company

11 comments:

  1. Can't wait to see this new movie. Add Eddie of "Frasier" fame to your list of talented pooches of this breed. They're smart and know when the camera is on them. And when it's not, they'll still steal the scene.

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  2. Of course - who can forget Eddie! Makes me want a Jack Russell but they HATE cats apparently....

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  3. Cathy--Try a fox terrier! They look very similar and mine at least loves cats... SUCH characters.

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  4. Hey Ann!
    My mom had a jack and chihuahua mix and the best! Maybe down the road...
    Hope u r well! What is your latest book?

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  5. I have always loved Asta and the Thin Man series!!!! But I should meet Uggie. On my watch list. Thanks for the introduction.

    Cheers,

    Claudia

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  6. Thanks for the comment Claudia -- Uggie is adorable!

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  7. Hey Cathy--
    That does sound like a good mix, not short on personality! Just released a book with the Neelys (Neelys' Celebrations Cookbook/Knopf), and working on a proposal for Korean comfort food with a chef in NYC. Love your blog, by the way!

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  8. Hi--Neely's with Knopf (Random House) and we're going to shop the Korean book in January so we'll see where!

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  9. Thanks Cathy! Merry Christmas!

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