The Shaggy Dog (1959) (G, 1959)

Disney's first live-action comedy follows the hairy adventures of young Wilby (Tommy Kirk), who stumbles upon an enchanted ring with an inscription. When Wilby reads the inscription, he turns into a large shaggy dog and the only way he can put a stop to the uncontrollable canine transformations is to do a good deed. But Wilby faces a major problem in the form of two Soviet spies, and things really get complicated when he accidentally sets off a rocket in the basement. Like any good Disney feature, there is plenty of comic misunderstanding and wild Keystone Cop-like chases.

Although the pace lags at times, THE SHAGGY DOG remains entertaining. Fine performances by several of the Mouseketeers and Fred McMurray as a dog-phobic father will charm school-age kids and their nostalgic parents. The movie offers a fascinating peek at how 1950s Americans saw the world.

Eleven- and 7-year-old viewers were almost equally amused by The Shaggy Dog, though both grew restless at times as the many plot-wheels gradually meshed. But Wilby's antics as Chiffon, the "Bratislavian Sheepdog," will genuinely entertain young viewers. Parents can have little objection to this well-behaved, clean-cut feature.

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Charles Barton
Cast: Annette Funicello, Fred MacMurray, Jean Hagen
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 104 minutes
Theatrical release: March 19, 1959
DVD release: March 21, 2000
MPAA Rating: G