Those people who were quick to condemn this movie for what was perceived as its message unfortunately missed the point. It's deeply affecting stuff, based on a story by Romain Gary, of an actress named Julie (Kristy McNichol) who takes in a beautiful white German Shepherd that she accidentally hits with her car one night. She comes to love the dog, realizing he makes for an excellent guard dog, but comes to learn that this dog has been trained to attack people - specifically, black people. In desperation, she turns to a group of men who train animals for the movies, including Carruthers (Burl Ives) and Keys (Paul Winfield), hoping the dog can be rehabilitated. Keys, who is black himself, makes it his mission to try to get through to this dog; even though he has his doubts, he holds out that slim hope of claiming victory. It's hard to get through this story and NOT be deeply affected; as one can see, this is more than just the story of one dog, it's a means of showing any and all ways that people can channel their prejudices, whether it be through their children, and keep the cycle going, or through man's best friend in this case. The viewer will likely feel the same way as Keys, played wonderfully by Winfield, hoping that against the odds there will be some sort of happy ending. They'll reel from the implications of this dog's actions. Accompanied by beautiful Ennio Morricone music, this movie may have some silly lines and moments here and there, and not exactly be subtle about its message, but one thing is for sure, and that's that it definitely keeps one watching. It's hard to watch at times, in its uncut form, but undeniably powerful. The animal action by Karl Lewis Miller is first rate (Miller also cameos as the would be rapist) and the canine performances are no less than completely convincing; the white dog, played by a quintet of dogs, is truly scary when in attack mode. Co-starring Jameson Parker and Lynne Moody, with bit appearances by the likes of Christa Lang (widow of director Samuel Fuller), Fuller himself as Julie's agent, Marshall Thompson, Bob Minor, Paul Bartel, and Dick Miller, "White Dog" is a movie not easily forgotten, and it's easily deserving of another look. Eight out of 10.

This has to be one of the worst films ever made.Dumb concept poorly executed.Racist dog whose first attack is a white guy.The acting is simply horrible.It's directed like a TV movie and is is slow as mollasses.Aren't we sick of race baiting? It's sickening.I know this was made in the 80s, but come on folks.Stop the BS and get a life.Oh, and there's a reason Kristie hasn't done anything in 30 years -- she can act her way out of a paper bag.See the film if you want to prove how the media is crazy far left winged agenda driven.Otherwise, stay far away.

A film that deals with racism and hatred is necessarily racist and because of that can't have a good message? Well, if this is a current truth "White Dog" proves it wrong. With its apparently simple plot of a attacker German Shephard trained to kill Black people, the film directed by Samuel Fuller is a redemption story that makes us not take a look at how animals are treated to make horrible things but it's a even deeper look to another animal whose bestiality surpasses of any other wild animal, and that is us, we, the "thinking human", superior to all the other creatures of Earth.After accidentally hit a dog while driving, an actress (Kristy McNichol) takes the poor animal to her home thinking he's such a good boy. That good boy will later proof to be an racist and horrendous attacker who can kill or injure his victims simply because they're African American. As many know, this kind of situation leaves no alternative than to put the dog out of his misery but the woman says "No, I can't let that happen", and decides to take him to an specialist in wild animals who might cure the dog's dangerous obsession. And who's more inclined to do this job? A black trainer (Paul Winfield in one of his best roles) who tried (and failed) this experiment a few other times and firmly believes that he can take out of the hatred of the vicious dog. Will the white dog change for good?This adaptation from Romain Gary's book is translated to the screen as an strong reflection to us on why people should think twice before training an animal to become a monster who can kill people. To those who dared to call "White Dog" a racist due to the fact of all the things presented throughout the story, take a second look and pay attention to the ending, in which was corroborated that even if changing the animal's ferocity towards his primal target he'll change for another. What we get is that hatred sees beyond colors (even though, as the trainer says, "to the dog it's a black and white world" meaning that he'll find one good, nice and the other bad, I must attack), or to another extent seeing far away from what the film has shown, hatred and intolerance, even seeing the appearances, are completely blind to all the other things that exists, it doesn't see the interior of someone. The biggest questions we must ask ourselves while watching this film is: Does hate can easily be erased from somebody or something? One can teach to despise but one can really teach to change his views or what is thought to be his natural behavior? Not just the dog but a person as well, can we really change them of their negative and violent views? The film answers in its own sad ways but there's greater lessons to be learned when we reach its conclusion. The dog as a metaphor really worked for me, might not be so well perceived by some.It is an upsetting and tense plot but never discouraging, it always manages to make us engaged, thrilled. Of course, it has its minor flaws (an struggling actress like the main character wouldn't have the money to buy that kind of house), it has some weak acting from the leading role and her romantic pair, but it features some decent acting from Winfield, Burl Ives, and the five dogs that play the unnamed White Dog) but it's a effective thriller that skilfully touches the horror (some moments when I couldn't control myself when the trainer tests the dog with another black man in the cage just to prove that the animal already cured); such horror followed by the splendid music of maestro Ennio Morricone. Paramount feared to release this in theaters back in the days believing that the subject wouldn't be accepted by audiences and they also feared a massive boycott led by NAACP. Shelved after a few limited screenings, the film never found its public until recently with the release of the Criterion DVD. Sadly, Fuller never directed another American film just when his career was starting to being resurrected with the glorious war film "The Big Red One". Huge mistake of them but gladly many audiences can rediscover something more appealing and more positive than many flicks out there (and to think that "Birth of a Nation" caused more damage than anything with the racists played as heroes, coming out of the dark again and killing, lynching people and disseminating hatred in America; "White Dog" is highly harmless in comparison). Be prepared to really see something both scary and thought provoking. 10/10

Without any reservations about the subject matter, White Dog explores conditioning and re- conditioning of racism. It is about how racism can come about, and how it can be defeated. It is incredibly thrilling, perhaps the best use of an animal in any piece of cinema I have ever seen (and that includes CGI animals).Samuel Fuller had an interesting and new take on racism and how it can be handled. He wanted to investigate how racism can be tackled in a different way, through understanding and care. The racist just so happens to be a dog, who has been conditioned to attack black people at sight. In an attempt to recondition the dog, its trainers and owner goes through great length to hide their questionable efforts from the community around them.Another theme presented in the movie, which has already been hinted at, is the sacrifices people make in their attempts to achieve something greater. It shows how obsession can make a person lose sight of what he/she originally intended. Samuel Fuller's background as a crime reporter definitely shows in White Dog, which depicts animal attacks that makes the Discovery Channel pale in comparison. The use of graphic imagery of attacks and aggression seen in the dog makes the viewer fearful of what might happen at any moment.But sadly, there are many moments which clearly states that it is a B-movie, and therefore it is not as good as it could have been. There is nothing like a very cheesy moment to set you back from the actual intention of the piece itself. The ambiguous ending also causes a lot of people to miss out on the meaningful message at the very end, which I encourage everyone to find and think about.Overall the movie is very rewarding. The movie also makes one wonder why the movie never was given a chance in theaters, and why Samuel Fuller had to 'flee' the country after it was made. Without a doubt the movie is anti-racist, but I guess that is not how it was received...