Scruffy (1980 film)
Scruffy is a 1980 animated film produced by Ruby-Spears Productions and based on the 1978 British children's book Scruffy: The Tuesday Dog by Jack Stoneley.[1] It originally aired in three parts on ABC Weekend Special series on October 4, 11 and 18, 1980 and was also the first animated television special to be shown in three parts on consecutive Saturday mornings.[2]
Scruffy | |
---|---|
Written by | Sheldon Stark |
Directed by | Charles A. Nichols |
Voices of | Nancy McKeon Hans Conried June Foray Alan Young Michael Bell |
Music by | Dean Elliott |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Joe Ruby Ken Spears |
Producer | Jerry Eisenberg |
Running time | 70 minutes |
Production company | Ruby-Spears Productions |
Release | |
Original network | ABC |
Original release | October 4 – October 18, 1980 |
Synopsis
Scruffy is a puppy with beautiful eyes, a loving heart and an eager intelligence, born in a deserted house she shares with her mother, Duchess. When a lightning strike ignites a wildfire that burns down their home, the dogs are briefly adopted by their kindly rescuers who cannot bear to send them to the animal shelter and a possible untimely death. Soon, however, Duchess insists that she and Scruffy set off to find her original owners. But tragedy strikes when Duchess is shot by a hunter who mistakes them for wild dogs threatening his sheep, leaving Scruffy on her own in the countryside, until she finds a city nearby.
The orphaned Scruffy, frightened, freezing and alone in the big city until she finds an affectionate new master, a ragged but regal Shakespearean street performer named Joe Tibbles. Scruffy successfully howls her way into his act and cleverly learns every trick the old man can teach. Unfortunately, their happiness is only fleeting – Mr. Tibbles has a heart attack and collapses. As he is being taken away to a hospital in an ambulance, Scruffy chases after it; accidentally tumbling into a swirling river in the process.
Butch, a big tough dog rescues the drowning Scruffy and takes her to join his motley family of strays; mistreated by humans, these dogs have set up a canine commune in an abandoned station wagon. Their names are Randy, Collie, Sam and Solo. The next day, Scruffy and Butch are betrayed by a thief named Catlin and his dog Caesar, caught by dog catchers and thrown in the pound to face their doom. The dogs bark loudly for attention except for Randy who gives a mournful howl. When spotted by humans again, all dogs including Randy this time, bark for a family. Luckily, Scruffy and Butch are saved just in time to live happily ever after with their new adopted family, and Scruffy grows up to have puppies of her own with Butch.
Voices
- Nancy McKeon – Scruffy the English Springer Spaniel
- Hans Conried – Joe Tibbles/Solo the Scottish Terrier
- June Foray – Duchess, Scruffy's mother
- Alan Young – Narrator/Sam the Irish Terrier
- Michael Bell – Butch the Bull Terrier mix/Randy the Boxer
- Linda Gary – Collie the Rough Collie
- Frank Welker – Caesar the Rottweiler/Ken
- Janet Waldo – Alice
Production credits
- Starring the Voices of: Nancy McKeon, Hans Conried, Michael Bell, June Foray, Alan Young, Michael Rye, Alan Dinehart, Frank Welker, Linda Gary, Walker Edmiston, Janet Waldo
- Executive Producers: Joe Ruby & Ken Spears
- Produced by: Jerry Eisenberg
- Directed by: Charles A. Nichols
- Written by: Sheldon Stark
- Based on the Book "Scruffy" by: Jack Stoneley
- Story Direction: Ron Campbell
- Character Design: Ric Gonzalez
- Voice Direction: Alan Dinehart
- Layout Supervisor: Larry Huber
- Background Layout Supervision: David High
- Layout: Hak Ficq, William Lignante, John F. Guerin, Wallace Sides, Philip Norwood, Kathleen Vaslett, John Bruno, Barton Seitz, Bruce Zick, Fred Irvin, Kurt Conner, Jim Willoughby, John Ahern, Gerard Pointak, Debra Push, Greg Garcia, Karl Hepworth, Richard Graham, Guy Smith, Marcia Bales, Charles Hards, Dave Sharp, Stuart Heimdal, Doug VanDegrift
- Animation Supervision: Ed Solomon, Bill Reid
- Production Manager: John Ahern
- Production Supervisor: Natalie Shirpser
- Studio Manager: Jeff Cooke
- Production Controller: Jerry Goldman
- Unit Auditor: Henriette Pacile
- Background Styling: Eric Semones
- Color Key: Bunny Semones
- Title Design & Lettering: Bob Schaefer
- Animation Stock: Sandra Benenati
- Assistants to the Executive Producers: Jodi Berman, Janie Fields
- Assistant to the Producer: Erika Grossbart
- Production Assistants: Madlyn Goldberg, Kayte Kuch, Loretta High, Harry Karamanlian
- Music Supervision: Dean Elliott
- Supervising Editor: Chip Yaras
- Effects Editors: David Stone, Kevin Spears
- Music Editor: Mark Shiney
- Post Production: Lenore Nelson
- Negative Cutting: Mary Nelson
- Camera: Take One
- Laboratory: C.F.I.
- Re-Recording: Heider Scoring Service
- Dubbing: T.V. Recorders
- ©1980 Ruby-Spears Productions, Inc.
- A FILMWAYS COMPANY
Home video release
Scruffy was first released on VHS by Worldvision Home Video in the early 1980s and later re-released on VHS in association with Kids Klassics Home Video in 1989. To date, it has not been released on DVD by current rightsholder Warner Home Video.
References
- Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 55–56. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- Woolery, George W. (1989). Animated TV Specials: The Complete Directory to the First Twenty-Five Years, 1962-1987. Scarecrow Press. pp. 355–356. ISBN 0-8108-2198-2. Retrieved 27 March 2020.