White Dog

I was raised on a steady diet of ABC Afternoon Specials and in many ways this movie came across as one: low budget, predictable editing, television level performances (excluding some), with an important social message. But this movie never saw the light of day because of misinformed concerns about it being racist and jumping-the-gun reactions. The director, Samuel Fuller, was so disillusioned by the vitriol against his film that he moved to France and didn’t direct in America again.  It’s a shame that the movie wasn’t released, because the significant message was placed in a readily understandable allegory. White Dog explores racism in a manner that is neither subtle nor timid. It broaches the subject head on and isn't afraid to let the message be told without having to be tied up in a neat little bow.

The allegory was stretched pretty thin at times with some implausible plot points. I needed to remind myself that in order to more fully understand the film’s message, I should let them go. Overall the view on the nature of hatred is disheartening, but I can find no fallacy in it.