The film "Beethoven" was released in 1992. Until then, large, shaggy dogs hadn't been popular, due to their living conditions—not everyone had a spacious home and yard. Several facts about St. Bernards made them famous and desirable in many families after this film.
Voronezh Star
Beethoven was brought into the Newton family as a puppy. He was to be played by a dog resembling the adult. Casting animals is a long and arduous process: you need to find a dog that not only resembles the adult but also has the right temperament, intelligence, and sociability, must clearly follow commands, and be a playful and playful puppy.
A representative of the breed who had just arrived from Voronezh for the show was chosen to play the role of Beethoven's puppy. His owner was a renowned Russian St. Bernard breeder.
The puppy had to obey not only the trainer but also the director. Eleanor Keaton, the widow of American comedian Buster Keaton, took on this challenging task. She accompanied the dog actors on the set of every episode, starting with the first. She taught them how to behave on camera, played with them, maintained a positive mood, and ensured they performed as expected.
St. Bernards have a high level of intelligence and a natural sense of danger, as they were bred to help people. They will never show aggression, no matter what children do to them.
She portrayed the breed so well in the film that many families with their own plots and houses later adopted a St. Bernard puppy. The "Voronezh star" also deserves credit for this. In the early 1990s, this breed became the most popular in America and famous worldwide.
The puppy in the film got its name because it helped its little owner perform a Beethoven piece by barking while she played the piano.
Smart hooligan
The St. Bernard's character is balanced, calm, and patient. Their size makes it impossible to imagine any other behavior. They weigh nearly 100 kg and stand up to 90 cm at the withers.
In the film, Beethoven, Chris's purebred St. Bernard, is a real troublemaker. He steals food from the table, jumps over it, leaps out of the window, and does things you wouldn't expect from a St. Bernard. He's learned to pose, act for the camera, and even fall down and play dead on Eleanor's command. The film crew selected the dog from 12 candidates and chose the most cheerful, restless, and intelligent—Chris.
This behavior is not typical for the breed, but the filmmakers decided that this was exactly the dog they needed to make viewers fall in love with him, just like his fictional owners.
In the film's sequels, Chris had to hire stunt doubles to maintain his health. Eating bacon for five to seven takes in a row is very unhealthy for a single dog.
Selecting puppies
The first film was so beloved by audiences that several sequels were made. In the second film, Beethoven finds love—a St. Bernard named Missy—and, as the story goes, they have puppies.
Even more dogs were needed for filming. The crew had to view over 100 St. Bernard puppies, aged seven weeks and older. They needed puppies with both shaggy and smooth coats, like the main characters'.
Missy is a female, more even-tempered and calm, neat, and with a smooth coat. Beethoven is playful and funny, his shaggy coat adding to his mischievous look. Both shorthaired and longhaired varieties are standard for the breed. Therefore, the puppies needed were also varied in age and appearance. All were later returned to their owners.
