The most controversial movie of the 1980s caused such a big stir that it was shelved for decades, but it deserves more attention now that it’s available to view. From the perspective of mainstream cinema, the 1980s was a business as usual decade that eschewed the confrontational politics of the ’70s. However, some filmmakers weren’t content with idealism.
Just beneath the mainstream, there was a rich vein of creativity in the 1980s that sought to explore complex issues that were forbidden in popular cinema. However, audiences weren’t ready for many of the decade’s statement pieces, and such films were immediately relegated to cult status. One 1982 hidden gem can be considered the most controversial film of its era.
Samuel Fuller’s White Dog Caused A Stir In The ‘80s
After years away from the director’s chair, Samuel Fuller came back in the ’80s with a vengeance and brought his confrontational and overtly political style with him. White Dog was a film that had been in development since the middle of the ’70s, but it languished in development hell as the script gave various writers trouble.
The story concerns a young woman who rescues a lost dog, only to discover that it has been trained to specifically attack Black people. She takes the dog to a revered animal trainer, himself a Black man, who is determined to rid the dog of his racist mental disease. The movie poses the question: can racism be cured?
Rumblings began during the production that the film could be misconstrued as racist, and groups like the NAACP threatened boycotts before the finished film was even screened. This caused Paramount to get cold feet, and it only received limited test screenings in a few big cities. Eventually, the studio completely scrapped the finished film.
White Dog was never given a wide release in the United States. It wasn’t until the 2000s that the film was scooped up as part of the Criterion Collection, and it got its very first physical release. As with a few festival screenings in the past, White Dog got glowing reviews when people could actually see it.
It’s One Of The Decade’s Biggest Hidden Gems
After years passed and the dust settled, White Dog was finally able to get a fair assessment. It was noted for its rich themes and use of effective melodrama. Fuller’s style gelled perfectly with the larger-than-life story, and the film’s symbolism was in no way muddled like the studio feared when they scrapped its release.
As such, White Dog became one of the biggest hidden gems of the 1980s, and it still hasn’t gotten the laurels it deserves. As a commentary about racism and violence, the film is unmatched, and its bitter ending leaves the viewer to make their own conclusions. It plumbs the depths of its own ideas, which is an uncomfortable prospect overall.
Unfortunately, even the Criterion Collection release of White Dog has become rare, and the movie is almost never available to stream. The controversy buried one of the final works by Samuel Fuller, a director who pushed boundaries his entire career. Hopefully, the pariah of early 1980s cinema will get its due one day.
Sources: Film Comment, The Criterion Collection
