Beethoven (film)
Encyclopedia
Beethoven is a 1992 American family comedy film
Family film
A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families.In December 2005, Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial came first in a poll of the 100 Greatest Family Films. The genre today generates billions of dollars per annum.Family...

, directed by Brian Levant
Brian Levant
Brian Michael Levant is an American television and film director, writer and producer.Levant was born in Highland Park, Illinois. He started his career in 1977 as a writer for the TV series "The Jeffersons"...

 and starring Charles Grodin
Charles Grodin
Charles Grodin is an American actor, comedian, author and former cable talk show host. Grodin began his acting career in the 1960s appearing in TV serials including The Virginian. He had a small part as an obstetrician in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby in 1968...

 and Bonnie Hunt
Bonnie Hunt
Bonnie Lynne Hunt is an American actress, comedian, writer, director, television producer and daytime television host.- Early life :...

. The film is the first in the Beethoven film series.

It was written by John Hughes (under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...

 Edmond Dantès) and Amy Holden Jones. The story centers on a St. Bernard dog named after the composer Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...

 owned by the Newton family and co-stars Nicholle Tom
Nicholle Tom
Nicholle Tom is an American actress, best known for her role as Maggie Sheffield on The Nanny.-Career:Since 2006, Tom has starred in the IFC original The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman as Tara, an underling at a film production company.Before her fame on The Nanny, she was known for...

, Christopher Castile
Christopher Castile
Christopher Jon Castile is an American actor from Orange County, California. He is best known for his roles as Ted Newton in the movies Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd, playing the voice of Zachary Sellers and Nick Mulligan in Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey, as well as playing Mark...

, Sarah Rose Karr
Sarah Rose Karr
Sarah Rose Karr is an American former child actress.She was best known for her roles in the movies Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd as Emily Newton , and Kindergarten Cop , where she played a pupil of the kindergarten teacher Arnold Schwarzenegger...

, Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...

, Oliver Platt
Oliver Platt
Oliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...

 and Dean Jones
Dean Jones (actor)
Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...

.

Plot

When the film opens, a St. Bernard
St. Bernard (dog)
The St. Bernard is a breed of very large working dog from the Italian and Swiss Alps, originally bred for rescue. The breed has become famous through tales of alpine rescues, as well as for its large size.-Appearance:The St. Bernard is a large dog...

 puppy and a large group of other puppies are stolen from a pet store
Pet store
A pet store or pet shop is a retail business which sells different kinds of animals. Pet stores also sell pet food, supplies, and accessories....

 by two thieves. After meeting a Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting. It is principally white-bodied smooth, rough or broken-coated which is commonly confused with the Parson Russell terrier and the Russell terrier with the term "Jack Russell" commonly misapplied to other small white...

 during his escape from the thieves, the St. Bernard sneaks into the home of the Newton family. The father, George Newton, doesn't want the responsibility of owning a dog, but his wife, Alice, and their children convince him otherwise. While trying to name their new-found dog, the youngest daughter, Emily, plays a portion of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...

's Fifth Symphony
Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804–08. This symphony is one of the most popular and best-known compositions in all of classical music, and one of the most often played symphonies. It comprises four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, and a fast...

 and the puppy barks along; the family thus names him "Beethoven."

While George focuses on Beethoven's negative qualities, the rest of the family grows attached to Beethoven. He helps the children overcome their problems in various ways; he frightens bullies that are bothering Ted, helps the eldest girl, Ryce, talk to her crush, and saves Emily's life when she falls in the irresponsible babysitter's swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...

. However, George becomes increasingly jealous of the affection Beethoven receives, feeling as though he is being neglected as the family fawns over Beethoven. His frustration comes to a head when Beethoven's antics ruin a barbecue George is hosting for Brad and Brie, venture capital
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...

ists looking to invest in his car freshener
Air freshener
Air fresheners are consumer products used in homes or commercial products used in restrooms that typically emit fragrance. There are two broad air freshener categories: continuous action and instant action...

 firm.

The family takes Beethoven to a local veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....

, Herman Varnick, for a routine medical examination and immunization
Immunization
Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an agent ....

s. The family is unaware that Varnick is involved in unethical
Medical ethics
Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...

 and deadly animal experimentation and hired the two thieves seen in the opening sequence. He urges the family to leave him overnight at the clinic, but they refuse. Varnick speaks to George alone and tells him of a supposed mental instability among St. Bernard dogs making them potentially dangerous to humans and advises George to watch Beethoven closely for any sign of viciousness. In truth, Varnick requires large-skulled dogs such as St. Bernards for an ammunition test.

Varnick later visits the Newton home under the guise of doing a follow-up exam on Beethoven. He stages an "attack" by Beethoven using fake blood, claiming that Beethoven bit his arm. Varnick tells George that Beethoven has to get put to sleep
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...

 or he will press charges. Emily, who saw Varnick hit Beethoven, protests that the attack was fake, but George, fearing for his family's safety, takes Beethoven to Varnick's office. It is on the way to Dr. Varnick's office that George discovers his own affections for Beethoven; he remembers when he was a child his father took their family dog to the vet to be euthanized and he "hated him for that." He fears that his own children will hate him now for taking Beethoven to be destroyed. Sure enough, when he returns home with the empty leash and collar his children all look at him and leave the dinner table rather than remain with him, Emily calling him "dog-killer."

Later, after recognizing the children's sadness and having a conversation with Alice in which she suggests that they believe their own daughter, who they know to be truthful over a man they've only met twice, George reluctantly agrees to speak to Dr. Varnick again. The family goes to his office to investigate the incident further. Varnick claims that Beethoven has already been euthanized. The children are distraught, but George is upset and reminds Varnick that he had been told that this wouldn't happen until the next day. When Ryce pushes her way past Dr. Varnick to get into the office he grabs her to prevent her entrance, and George grabs him while telling him to get his hands off his daughter. In the ensuing struggle it is revealed that Varnick has no bite marks (he had claimed to receive 37 stitches after Beethoven bit him) and that the attack was faked. Following a lack of police intervention, the family decides to follow Varnick, George tailing Varnick's Porsche while Alice calls the police. Varnick leads them to his secret animal-testing facility. As George closes in, Beethoven breaks free but is recaptured by the thieves. George crashes through the facility skylight just as Varnick prepares to shoot Beethoven. While George and Beethoven battle Varnick's two henchman, Ted drives the car into the building, launching numerous syringes into Varnick, sedating him. As the Newtons free all the captive dogs, Ted notices Varnick's two dog-thieves trying to escape, and he sends the herd of angry dogs after them. The thieves escape into a junkyard, only to be viciously maimed by a pack of Dobermans guarding the yard.

Dr. Varnick and his accomplices are arrested and Varnick is indicted
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...

 for his crimes. The Newtons are praised as heroes by the news and George takes a new liking to Beethoven. Ryce also gets a phone call from her crush Mark, much to her excitement. The Newtons then go to sleep, saying good night to Beethoven and all of the dogs they rescued.

Cast

  • Charles Grodin
    Charles Grodin
    Charles Grodin is an American actor, comedian, author and former cable talk show host. Grodin began his acting career in the 1960s appearing in TV serials including The Virginian. He had a small part as an obstetrician in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby in 1968...

     as George Newton
  • Bonnie Hunt
    Bonnie Hunt
    Bonnie Lynne Hunt is an American actress, comedian, writer, director, television producer and daytime television host.- Early life :...

     as Alice Newton
  • Nicholle Tom
    Nicholle Tom
    Nicholle Tom is an American actress, best known for her role as Maggie Sheffield on The Nanny.-Career:Since 2006, Tom has starred in the IFC original The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman as Tara, an underling at a film production company.Before her fame on The Nanny, she was known for...

     as Ryce Newton
  • Christopher Castile
    Christopher Castile
    Christopher Jon Castile is an American actor from Orange County, California. He is best known for his roles as Ted Newton in the movies Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd, playing the voice of Zachary Sellers and Nick Mulligan in Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey, as well as playing Mark...

     as Ted Newton
  • Sarah Rose Karr
    Sarah Rose Karr
    Sarah Rose Karr is an American former child actress.She was best known for her roles in the movies Beethoven and Beethoven's 2nd as Emily Newton , and Kindergarten Cop , where she played a pupil of the kindergarten teacher Arnold Schwarzenegger...

     as Emily Newton
  • Dean Jones
    Dean Jones (actor)
    Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...

     as Dr. Herman Varnick
  • David Duchovny
    David Duchovny
    David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...

     as Brad
  • Patricia Heaton
    Patricia Heaton
    Patricia Helen Heaton is an American actress, comedienne, producer and model, best known for portraying Debra Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996 to 2005, for which she won two Emmy Awards....

     as Brie
  • Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver James Platt is a Canadian-American actor. He is currently starring in the Showtime original series, The Big C with Laura Linney.-Early life:...

     as Harvey (Dognapper #1)
  • Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...

     as Vernon (Dognapper # 2)
  • Laurel Cronin as Devonia Pest
  • Nancy Fish as Miss Grundel
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    Joseph Gordon-Levitt
    Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt is an American actor whose career as both a child and adult has included television series and theatrical films....

     as Student #1


Numerous critics pointed out the satisfying irony in the casting of Dean Jones as the evil Dr. Varnick, as Mr. Jones had become famous playing likable characters in numerous Disney films, including That Darn Cat!
That Darn Cat!
That Darn Cat! is a 1965 American Walt Disney Productions feature film starring Hayley Mills and Dean Jones, starring in his first film for Disney in a story about bank robbers, a kidnapping and a mischievous cat. The film was based on the book Undercover Cat by Gordon and Mildred Gordon and was...

, The Ugly Dachshund
The Ugly Dachshund
The Ugly Dachshund is a 1966 Walt Disney Productions feature film starring Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette in a story about a Great Dane who believes he's a dachshund. Based on a 1938 novel by Gladys Bronwyn Stern, the film was written by Albert Aley and directed by Norman Tokar...

, The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit
The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit is a 1968 film directed by Norman Tokar....

 and especially as race car driver "Jim Douglas" in the successful The Love Bug
The Love Bug
The Love Bug is the first in a series of comedy films made by Walt Disney Productions that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 1963 Volkswagen racing Beetle named Herbie...

series, which encompassed two theatrical films and a short-lived television series.

Reception

The film grossed $57,114,049 in North America and $90,100,000 in other territories.. Based on 24 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...

, the film has an overall approval rating from critics of 33%, with an average score of 4.8/10.

Sequels and spin-offs

The film was followed by five sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...

s. Beethoven's 2nd
Beethoven's 2nd
Beethoven's 2nd is a 1993 American family film directed by Rod Daniel, and the first sequel to the 1992 film, Beethoven. It starred Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt, and Beethoven's four puppies, Chubby, Dolly, Tchaikovsky, and Moe. This is the second of six installments in the Beethoven film series...

was released to theaters in 1993. The remaining sequels were direct-to-video films: Beethoven's 3rd
Beethoven's 3rd
Beethoven's 3rd is the second sequel to the 1992 film, Beethoven. Additionally, this is the third installment in the Beethoven film series...

(2000), Beethoven's 4th
Beethoven's 4th
Beethoven's 4th is the third sequel to the 1992 film, Beethoven and is the fourth installment in the Beethoven film series. It was released on December 4, 2001.- Plot :...

(2001), Beethoven's 5th
Beethoven's 5th (film)
Beethoven's 5th is the fifth installment in the Beethoven film series, all sequels to the 1992 film Beethoven. It was released in 2003. Daveigh Chase takes over the role of Sara which was originally played by Michaela Gallo in the previous two films. This was the final film of the original...

(2003), Beethoven's Big Break
Beethoven's Big Break
Beethoven's Big Break is the sixth installment in the Beethoven film series. It was released on DVD on December 26, 2008...

(2008), and the upcoming Beethoven's Christmas Adventure (2011). An animated TV series
Beethoven (TV series)
Beethoven is an animated sitcom, loosely based on the 1992 motion picture of the same name. The series was produced by Northern Lights Entertainment Universal Animation Studios and Universal Media Studios, and aired for one season on CBS, with 24 half-hour episodes produced.-Premise:Unlike the...

 was also created around the films that debuted in 1993. Dean Jones
Dean Jones (actor)
Dean Carroll Jones is an American actor. Jones is best known for his light-hearted leading roles in several Walt Disney movies between 1965 and 1977, most notably The Love Bug.-Early years:...

 voiced the role of George Newton in this series after playing the villain in the film & Nicholle Tom
Nicholle Tom
Nicholle Tom is an American actress, best known for her role as Maggie Sheffield on The Nanny.-Career:Since 2006, Tom has starred in the IFC original The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman as Tara, an underling at a film production company.Before her fame on The Nanny, she was known for...

reprised her role as the voice of Ryce Newton.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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