Shaggy Dog, The (film) Young misfit teenager Wilby Daniels accidentally discovers a magic ring in a museum, and, by repeating the Latin inscription, he becomes a large and clumsy Bratislavian sheep dog. This amuses his younger brother, Moochie, but shocks his parents, and endears him to lovely neighbor girl Franceska, who thinks he is her dog Chiffon. But when her father turns out to be a Russian spy, it is up to Wilby to capture the gang, which he manages to do after a hair-raising chase. Unfortunately it is Franceska’s Chiffon who gets all the attention and credit at the end—for who would believe Wilby’s story? Released Mar. 19, 1959. Directed by Charles Barton in black and white. One of the biggest and most unexpected film milestones in Disney history, the Studio’s first live-action comedy set the formula for many Disney movies to come: youngsters, animals, strange—sometimes magical—events, music, and a catchy main title sequence. 101 min. Stars Fred MacMurray (Wilson Daniels), Jean Hagen (Frieda Daniels), Tommy Kirk (Wilby Daniels), Annette Funicello (Allison D’Allessio), Tim Considine (Buzz Miller), Roberta Shore (Franceska Andrassy), Kevin Corcoran (Moochie). The first Disney film starring Fred MacMurray. The film has grossed over $12 million, and spawned two sequels: The Shaggy D.A. (1976) and The Return of The Shaggy Dog, a television movie in 1987, and two remakes (for television in 1994 and for theaters in 2005). The film was originally devised for the Disney television series. Released on video in 1981 and 1993.
