The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby

The story of Greyfriars Bobby is one that has no definitive true version, as there is much debate about this real life story and many of the details. Because of this, it didn't bother me too much that the film says it is BASED on the dog's life. Adding a few details and fictionalizing up the story, a bit, didn't bother me because of this. However, one detail that is consistent in the stories is that Bobby was a terrier, but looked little like the West Highland White terrier you see in the movie. Most say Bobby was a Skye terrier, but photos of him don't really look like a Skye but a mixed dark terrier about the size of a Skye or Westie. So why didn't they at least use a dog that looked more like Bobby (such as a Cairn or Border terrier)? Apparently, Westies are more photogenic or something. I didn't like this choice...but unlike one reviewer who gives the movie a 1 just because of this, I am willing to cut it a bit of slack.

As per what we know about the wee doggy, he was owned by a night watchman who died prematurely due to tuberculosis. Following the man's death, the dog seemed to follow the daily route of his master as well as hang out at his master's grave. The film particularly focused on the grave, not the route nor how the doggy often was seen next door at a local pub which his owner frequented.

So do I recommend the film? Well, it's an enjoyable dog movie provided you don't spend too much time comparing it to the older Disney version...which I think is superior. But it's not a bad tale and is well worth seeing.

By the way, I noticed a lot of 10s and 9s among the reviews and wonder if this is more an indication that these folks love dogs as opposed to this being a superior production. I adore dogs myself but cannot see giving it a score much higher than 7 or 8 for technical and dramatic reasons.

Whatever be Dog's stories I'm in due already hang out with five of those men's best friends, based on true story of little Tessier Bobby at Edinburgh around 1860, reading all reviews here, some arguing that story isn't accurate, however a question remains, what movie portraits the real events totally accuracy? Well hard to find due it needs an adaptation to became it fully engaging in the sight of the audience, by imputing some villains to improve the dramatism.

The Constable John Grey (Thomas Lockyer) has an esteemed Terrier dog whereby together with the little boy Ewan Adams (Oliver Golding) used to go a nearby hill, where the wind blows hard, very akin with whistling ghostly sound, John Grey comes to die soon, buried at Greyfriars's graveyard, Bobby instead to stay at widow's home, he usually sit down at John Grey's gravesite mostly of time and all night long, leaving the spot to catch rats,

Somehow it's backed by the local Minister Lee that used to make harsh criticism addressed to powerful owner of textile mills Duncan Smithie (Sean Pertwee) and also Lord Cecil Johnson maintainer director of foster home, such criticizes over lack of investment of Old City that remains in unhealthy conditions, it turns back against the Dog little Bobby whereof the Minister Lee has a great concern, thus Booby becomes the target of rage from the duo.

After many failed attempts to avoid and keep the little Dog farthest away, the infamous duo find out a loophole in the law, every stray dogs without owner should be sacrificed, here is the real issue, the Bobby's former owner already died, actually he living at Greyfriars John Gray's graveyard, thus he is ownerless Dog and fits in the law of stray dogs, therephore......

The casting is mostly unknown for us aside Christopher Lee that appears just in last section together with Ian Richardson as the Judge, it wasn't a Disney production whatsoever, although has many akin elements that improve the picture as follow, set in Victorian age it displayed the old Edinburgh utterly authentic and all place around as alleys, cobbled streets, ancient textiles mill and graveyard as well, without forget the supporting casting with colorful characters as the Coconut Tam, and good-nature cemetery's keeper among others.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2023 / Source: DVD / How many: 1 / Rating: 7.

Let me say at the outset that this is a wee gem of a film. Put all the nit picking you may have heard about locations and breeds aside - they fade in the bright shiny faced light of John Henderson's lovely family film. It is a film trivia buff's dream in that there are incongruities in the story but this is not a film for obsessives and grown ups - it' s for kids and their parents. O.K.? And dog lovers. It delivers an hour and a half of perfectly paced entertainment and I really enjoyed it. My four year old daughter did too. A lot.

The key to the film is that the dog is the star - humans play big parts but the dog is the centre of the story. There are several excellent human performances, notably James Cosmo as the gravedigger, Ardal O'Hanlon, who has the best lines and the two "baddies". Steady work from Gina McKee and Greg Wise keeps the story plausible. Beautiful cinematography, a good music score, outstanding costumes and location dressing top up the whole and the result is a film which could become a modern classic.

Greyfriars Bobby isn't a clever dick film either - it's simple and understood by kids under 12. However, it holds everyone's attention and deals with some difficult issues really well.

What is the story? You don't know? O.K. Clever wee dog works with his master, a policemen, and is a general boon to his owner. Sadly, owner dies, but dog sits on his Master's grave "guarding" it. Villains try to get rid of said dog, but dog is gutsy and tenacious. Dog wins friends, becomes well known and has many adventures.

It's nice to see a film that's not full of egos and cgi inserts too - the cast are chosen, I guess, for their ability to play the role well enough and not steal the dog's thunder. John Henderson's comment to the audience was to the effect "If you don't like it, stuff you" but John, we do like it. It's nice and doesn't try to be anything else. Take as many kids to this film as you can - they'll love and you'll enjoy seeing that.

Living in Edinburgh, and have a great thirst for history, I was very put off by the "libertys" taken. Wrong breed of dog for a start!! Bobbys owner Old Jock was an old single man, who came to Edinburgh and died a pauper in lodgings, not like in the film at all. For anyone coming to Edinburgh and hoping to see sights of the film,you will not find the graveyard in Princes St Gardens!! There were a few moments were a tissues would have been great. The actors were fantastic at padding out a rather flimsy script. I don't feel the poor wee Bobby actually got enough screen time, possibly due to being "lost" at one point. All that said, the film was fine and any 8 yr old will enjoy.

Unlike the user who left the comment below after obviously taking his FACTS from the older version of Greyfriars Bobby,i find this film to be mostly correct to real events. For instance 'Old Jock' was not a pauper who came to Edinburgh,he was in fact a family man who came to Edinburgh as a gardener and not having much luck in work was forced to find a job as a policeman.He was in the force for 5 years before he died leaving behind a son.Bobby was his watchdog which he was told to get being a nightwatchman. He was one of the longest serving policeman even though he was only in the force for 5 years. Bobby was a Skye terrier,very similar to the dog in the film. Obviously some facts are exaggerated to improve film summary,i found it to be a good all round family film.I have visited Bobby's grave on several occasions as well as John Grey's and I still find myself smiling at this story.