A Dog Named Gucci

A Dog Named Gucci is a 2015 documentary film by Gorman Bechard that chronicles the story of an Alabama puppy set on fire, and the man who came to his rescue. The film made its American festival debut in February 2015 at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.[1]

A Dog Named Gucci
poster
Directed byGorman Bechard
Produced byGorman Bechard
Kristine Bechard
Music byDean Falcone
CinematographyGorman Bechard
Sarah Hajtol
Edited byGorman Bechard
Production
company
What Were We Thinking Films
Distributed byMVD Entertainment
Release date
  • February 14, 2015 (2015-02-14) (Big Sky Documentary Film Festival)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Spring Hill College Professor Doug James rescues an abused puppy and sets out on a mission to change the laws in Alabama on domestic animal abuse. Teaming with local legislators, it took James six years to see the "Gucci Bill" finally passed into law.[2]

Three other canine abuse cases feature: a rottweiler who was boarded in a kennel, but starved to death and two dogs who were burn victims, one of which was the first to test the new Gucci's Law.[3]

In Care2, Alicia Graef described the film, "It began back in 1994, when a 10-week-old puppy named Gucci was hung from a tree, beaten, doused in lighter fluid and set on fire by a group of men in Mobile, Alabama. College professor Doug James was nearby by pure chance and rushed to help. He would later become Gucci’s second owner and together the two would eventually bring about a historic change in Alabama’s animal cruelty laws through legislation honoring Gucci."[4]

Release

Film screenings include the following:

Awards

On November 12, 2015, director Gorman Bechard was awarded the ASPCA Media Excellence Award for his work on A Dog Named Gucci.[12]

Music

The end credits song from the film, "One Voice" written by Ruth Moody, features the talents of Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, Lydia Loveless, Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, and Brian May. It was produced by Dean Falcone, who also wrote the film's score. One Voice was released on Record Store Day, April 16, 2016, with profits from the sale of the single going to benefit animal charities.[13]

Critical response

Writing on The Movie Guys website, Ray Schillaci said, "Where many could have focused on the cruelty and the perpetrator, Bechard chooses to highlight the fight against such viciousness, the happiness and companionship that blossoms, and the bureaucratic struggles to achieve what is right. It’s a wonderful and beautiful testament to Gucci, his owner, and all other animals and the people that care for them."[14]

Joey Kennedy, in the Animal Advocates of Alabama website, said, "Perhaps what is so remarkable about the film is how well Bechard is able to convey Gucci's charming personality. Bechard never met the dog, yet viewers left the theater feeling as if they had known Gucci personally. It would have been easy for Bechard to slip into over-sentimentality, but he doesn't. The story itself, especially as told mostly by James, is powerful enough without gimmicks."."[3]

Ralph Tribbey, in the DVD & Blu-Ray Release Report called it "a heartfelt tale of love, kindness and a story of a man and his dog … a man and his dog on a very special mission."[10]

Jonathan Tressler, in the News-Herald, called it, "shocking, yet inspirational."[15]

Amos Lassen called the film, "a positive and uplifting look at one victim who went on to become a hero. The story is one of triumph."[16]

Writing in Diversity Rules Magazine, Jim Koury called it, "timely and poignant."[17]

gollark: What? Aren't *younger* people better at healing from falling over and whatever?
gollark: Yes, how much food is ultimately being wasted as diarrhoea? This is just a bad idea.
gollark: I... see.
gollark: You know you can just *throw away* things which cause horrible health problems if used?
gollark: I see. This definitely seems broader than common definitions in use then.

References
  1. "A Dog Named Gucci - Big Sky Documentary Film Festival". www.bigskyfilmfest.org. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  2. Dogster. September 18, 2013.
  3. "Documentary 'A Dog Named Gucci' inspires Sidewalk Film Festival crowd". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  4. "From Burn Victim To Rock Star: New Film Tells The Story Of 'A Dog Named Gucci' | Care2 Causes". www.care2.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. "Phoenix Film Festival documentary: 'A Dog Named Gucci' highlights animal cruelty". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  6. DUNNE, SUSAN. "New Haven Hosts 3-Day Film Fest". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  7. "17th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival: A Dog Named Gucci Sponsored by Davis Arc..." Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  8. "'A Dog Named Gucci' makes Mobile premiere Wednesday". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  9. "'A Dog Named Gucci' director shares insight on animal abuse doc screening at HHM". Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  10. Tribbey, Ralph (2016-03-19). "DVD & Blu-Ray Release Report: Filmmaker Gorman Bechard's A Dog Named Gucci To Make Its DVD Debut On Apr. 19". DVD & Blu-Ray Release Report. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  11. "Watch A Dog Named Gucci Online | Stream Full Movie | DIRECTV". DIRECTV. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  12. https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-news-wire/PRNews_20151026DC38760/aspca-announces-2015-humane-award-winners.html
  13. "ONE VOICE". www.recordstoreday.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  14. "HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 15TH ANNUAL PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL – PART 1". 8 April 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  15. "Animal lovers, concerned citizens gather for Mentor screening of documentary "A Dog named Gucci"". www.news-herald.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  16. ""A DOG NAMED GUCCI"— "Justice is a Dog's Best Friend"". Reviews by Amos Lassen. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  17. "A Dog Named Gucci Examines Animal Abuse Laws". Diversity Rules Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
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