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| name = Hounddog | name = Hounddog
| image = Hounddog poster.jpg | image = Hounddog poster.jpg
| image_size = 215px
| alt = | alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = Deborah Kampmeier<br />]<br />Raye Dowell<br />Jen Gatien<br />Terry Leonard | producer = Deborah Kampmeier<br />]<br />Raye Dowell<br />Jen Gatien<br />Terry Leonard
| writer = ] | writer = Deborah Kampmeier
| starring = {{Plainlist | | starring = {{Plainlist |
* ] * ]
⚫ * ]
⚫ * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
⚫ * Robin Wright Penn
⚫ * ]
}} }}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = Jim Denault | cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
}}
| editing = Sabine Hoffmann | editing = Sabine Hoffmann
| studio = Empire Film Group<br />] | studio = Empire Film Group<br />]
Line 25: Line 27:
| country = United States | country = United States
| language = English | language = English
| budget = <$4 million<ref name=twc>{{cite web|url=https://womensmediacenter.com/news-features/keeping-hold-of-your-visionthe-making-of-hounddog |title=Keeping Hold of Your Vision—the Making of Hounddog |date=September 17, 2008 |website=Women’s Media Center |access-date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>
| budget = $3.75 million
| gross = $131,961<ref name="mojo" /> | gross = $131,961<ref name="mojo" />
}} }}
'''''Hounddog''''' is a 2007
'''''Hounddog''''' is a 2007 American ] ] written, directed, and produced by ] and starring ], ], ], and ], among others. It is also ]'s debut film. Penn also serves as an ]. The film was produced by Raye Dowell, Jen Gatien, and Terry Leonard. It premiered in competition at the ], and was given a ] in 11 North American theaters on September 19, 2008.
American ] written, directed, and produced by ]. The film stars ], ], ], ], and ] in her film debut. Filmed near ] and set in 1956 ], the film follows a troubled girl who finds solace from an abusive life through the music of ].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.themotionpicturegroup.com/news_releases/09222006.html |title = The Motion Picture Group, Inc. co-finances ''Hound Dog'' |date = September 12, 2006 |publisher = The Motion Picture Group |access-date = September 26, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061114055628/http://www.themotionpicturegroup.com/news_releases/09222006.html |archive-date = November 14, 2006 |url-status = dead }}</ref>


''Hounddog'' premiered at the ] on January 22, 2007, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, and was given a limited theatrical release on September 19, 2008. Although Fanning was praised for her performance, the film was panned by critics due to a controversial rape scene that was filmed when Fanning was only twelve years old. It was also a commercial failure, grossing $131,961, against an estimated $4 million production budget.
Shot near ] and taking place in the early 1960s in rural ], the film stars Fanning as Lewellen, "a troubled 12-year-old girl who finds solace from an ] life through music of ]."<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.themotionpicturegroup.com/news_releases/09222006.html |title=The Motion Picture Group, Inc. co-finances ''Hound Dog'' |date = September 12, 2006 |publisher=The Motion Picture Group}}</ref>

The film was panned by critics, due in part to a controversial scene in which Fanning's character is raped.<ref name="tomatoes" /> The film was also a box office failure, grossing only $131,961, against an estimated $3.75 million production budget.<ref name="mojo" />


==Plot== ==Plot==
In 1956, Lewellen lives with her stern, religious grandmother, Grannie, who has taken it upon herself to raise the girl, as neither of Lewellen's parents can provide her a stable home. Her father, Lou, loves her and tries to please her, giving her gifts such as ] recordings. Although he battles with alcoholism, he tries his best to give Lewellen a stable home. He even tries to provide a motherly figure in Lewellen's life by dating a mysterious girlfriend, Ellen, who promised one night to rescue Lewellen from life in the rural South should the relationship falter. We later learn that Ellen is in fact Lewellen's aunt, her mother's sister. In 1956, 12-year-old ] native Lewellen lives in poverty with her stern, religious grandmother, who has taken it upon herself to raise the girl, as Lewellen's father, Lou, cannot provide her stability. Lou struggles with alcoholism, though he tries his best to make Lewellen happy, such as gifting her an ] vinyl record. He even tries to provide a motherly figure for Lewellen by dating a mysterious woman, Ellen, who promised one night to rescue Lewellen from life in the rural South should her relationship with her father fall apart. Ellen is later revealed to be Lewellen's maternal aunt and Grannie's estranged daughter.

⚫ Lewellen finds consolation in playing with her best friend Buddy, idling away her last preteen summer with typical outdoor rural pastimes such as swimming in the pond and exploring the woods. Lewellen and Buddy make a new friend, Grasshopper, who is spending the summer with her grandparents. Lewellen begins to idolize Elvis, even more so after she learns he is coming to Alabama for a concert. Lewellen finds that singing Elvis' music is a way to channel her trauma into something constructive and creative. Charles acts as a mentor, imparting wisdom of his ] religion to explain this to Lewellen, in other words, how to create something positive out of something venomous and deadly.


Ellen leaves after Lou assaults her, pretending she doesn't know who Lewellen is after her car is towed. Lou is struck by lightning while mowing the lawn, leaving him mentally handicapped, but the thought of Elvis coming to town gives Lewellen the resolve to carry on despite her circumstances. Buddy tells Lewellen that the local milkman, Wooden's Boy, has an Elvis ticket and is willing to give it to her if she does her Elvis dance for him. Just as Lewellen starts singing and dancing, Wooden's Boy tells her to take off her clothes. Lewellen questions doing such an act, but agrees to do so after Buddy tells her it is part of the deal. Once Lewellen finishes, Wooden's Boy unzips his trousers and rapes her while a horrified Buddy looks away.
⚫ Lewellen is able to maintain her innocence by finding consolation in playing with her best friend Buddy, idling away her last pre-teen summer with typical outdoor rural pastimes such as swimming in the pond and exploring the woods, meeting a new friend, Grasshopper, while spending the summer with her grandparents. Lewellen is enchanted by her idol, Elvis Presley, who is making a homecoming tour in the South. Her town is one of the venue stops. Lewellen finds that singing Elvis' music is a way to channel her trauma into something constructive and creative. Charles (Afemo Omilami) acts as a mentor, imparting wisdom of his ] religion to explain this emotional channelling to her — in other words, how to create something positive out of something venomous and deadly.


The assault causes severe emotional trauma for Lewellen that manifests as an illness. During church service, Buddy and Grasshopper laugh at Lewellen, causing her to walk out. Subsequently, Buddy breaks his promise to Lewellen by taking Grasshopper to see Elvis instead. Charles and Grannie are distressed by Lewellen's sudden decline in health, and in fits of feverish illness, she hallucinates being attacked by venomous snakes. Ellen returns to town to take Lewellen with her, but Grannie threatens to kill her if she comes back. Later that day, Charles discovers Ellen has been bitten by a rattlesnake and nurses her back to health.
Lewellen is challenged by many problems besides living in a "broken home". Ellen leaves one day and breaks Lewellen's heart, burdening her with the responsibility to be a "mother" despite not having one herself. Her father suffers a terrible accident, and is handicapped to the point of infantile ], but the thought of Elvis coming to town gives her the resolve to carry on despite this newest of many traumatic circumstances. Buddy tells Lewellen that Wooden's Boy has an Elvis ticket and is willing to give it to her if she does her Elvis dance for him naked. When she finds out the deal, she questions doing such an act for a moment. She then agrees to do so, Wooden's Boy then unzips his trousers, she asks for her ticket, but Wooden's Boy then rapes her.


Charles overhears Wooden's Boy bragging to Buddy about what he did to Lewellen. Enraged, Charles resolves to help Lewellen reclaim her voice by encouraging her to sing "]". An emotional Lewellen struggles to sing, but she manages to pull through and reduces Charles and his bandmates to tears. The next morning, Lewellen finds a puppy abandoned on the road, and shortly after, Ellen drives up in her car. Lewellen shows her the puppy and Ellen expresses that she wants Lewellen to go with her now to start a new life together, as she’d promised. While Ellen waits in her car on the side of the road, Lewellen goes to find her grandmother and father one final time, and spots them outside attempting to kill a large, venomous snake. She watches them for a moment from a distance, then calls to her father. He looks to Lewellen and she tells him that she loves him. Lou smiles and replies with, “Yes ma’am” before looking back to the snake. Lewellen says nothing more, then turns and walks away for the last time, leaving her home and old life behind.
The sexual assault causes life-threatening emotional trauma, that manifests as an illness. Her loved ones, Charles and Grannie, are distressed by her sudden decline in health. In fits of feverish illness, she hallucinates she is being attacked by venomous snakes, and she also vomits after church. Enraged by hearing the cause of Lewellen's descent into figurative hell, Charles overhears Buddy talking to Wooden's Boy about what he had done to her, he then resolves to rescue his young friend from the depths of despair and tries to help her reclaim her stolen paralyzed voice by encouraging her to sing "]". He nurses her back to health. Ellen soon returns to the town to keep her promise to Lewellen. Lewellen bids farewell to her father and departs for a better life with her new mother.


==Cast== ==Cast==


* ] as Lewellen * ] as Lewellen
* ] as Gwendolyn "Grasshopper" * ] as Gwendalyn "Grasshopper"
* ] as Grannie * ] as Grannie
* ] as ] * ] as ]
* ] as Lou * ] as Lou
* ] as Ellen * ] as Ellen
* ] as Wooden's Boy * ] as Wooden's Boy
* Cody Hanford as Buddy * Cody Hanford as Buddy
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==Reception== ==Reception==
{{Anchor|Reaction}} {{Anchor|Reaction}}
The film garnered a great deal of attention, and generated intense controversy, owing to the use of such a young actress in a role that included a rape scene. Though the scene only showed Fanning's face and her character's reaction to the ] of the act,<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-01-23-fanning-hounddog_x.htm | title= Fanning speaks up on rape scene | date= January 23, 2007|newspaper=]| first=Anthony | last=Breznican}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1581847,00.html |title=Fanning Controversy | date=January 24, 2007 |newspaper=]}}</ref> it became known as the "Dakota Fanning rape movie" at the Sundance Film Festival.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/14/dakota-fannings-hounddog_n_126267.html | title=Dakota Fanning's "Hounddog," The Rape Movie, Savaged On Way To Release | date=October 15, 2008 | work = ]| first = Katherine | last=Thomson}}</ref> Fanning expressed ire towards the attacks against her family, most of which she said were directed toward her mother.<ref>Breznican, Anthony. , '']'', January 23, 2007.</ref> The film garnered a great deal of attention, and generated intense controversy, owing to the use of a very young actress in a role that included a rape scene far before reaching ]. Though the scene only showed Fanning's face and her character's reaction to the ] of the act,<ref name=":0">{{cite news | url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-01-23-fanning-hounddog_x.htm | title= Fanning speaks up on rape scene | date= January 23, 2007|newspaper=]| first=Anthony | last=Breznican}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1581847,00.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070126170358/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1581847,00.html | url-status= dead | archive-date= January 26, 2007 |title=Fanning Controversy | date=January 24, 2007 |newspaper=]}}</ref> it became known as the "Dakota Fanning rape movie" at the Sundance Film Festival.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/14/dakota-fannings-hounddog_n_126267.html | title=Dakota Fanning's "Hounddog," The Rape Movie, Savaged On Way To Release | date=October 15, 2008 | work = ]| first = Katherine | last=Thomson}}</ref> Fanning expressed ire towards the attacks against her family, most of which she said were directed toward her mother.<ref name=":0" />


Because of the outcry over ''Hounddog'', ] and minority leader ] called for all future films made in ] to have their scripts approved in advance if they are to get the normal production subsidy from the state. Berger says that he has not seen the film but is acting in response to what he has read about it.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS/701260363 | title = Republican: Scripts need reviewing – Movie prompts lawmaker's film incentive idea | date=January 26, 2007 | newspaper =]}}</ref> Because of the outcry over ''Hounddog'', ] and minority leader ] called for all future films made in ] to have their scripts approved in advance if they are to get the normal production subsidy from the state. Berger says that he has not seen the film but is acting in response to what he has read about it.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 26, 2007 |title=Republican: Scripts need reviewing – Movie prompts lawmaker's film incentive idea |newspaper=] |url=http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS/701260363 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205044341/http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070126/NEWS/701260363 |archive-date=February 5, 2007}}</ref>


] ] gives the film a score of 15% based on reviews from 54 critics, with the website's consensus stating: "Despite a noble effort from Dakota Fanning, Hounddog is overwrought, cliche-ridden and downright exploitative."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1195905-hounddog/ | title = Hounddog | work = ] |accessdate = November 4, 2013}}.</ref> ] ] gives the film a score of 15% based on reviews from 54 critics, with the website's consensus stating: "Despite a noble effort from Dakota Fanning, ''Hounddog'' is overwrought, cliche-ridden and downright exploitative."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web | url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1195905-hounddog/ | title = Hounddog | work = ] |accessdate = November 4, 2013}}.</ref>


Fanning was praised for her performance by ], who compared it to ]'s in '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/REVIEWS/809180302/1023|title = Hounddog|author-link = Roger Ebert | first = Roger | last = Ebert |date= September 18, 2008|newspaper= ]}}</ref> Fanning was praised for her performance by ], who compared it to ]'s in '']''.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hounddog-2008|title = Hounddog|author-link = Roger Ebert | first = Roger | last = Ebert |date= September 18, 2008|newspaper= ]}}</ref>


===Box office=== ===Box office===
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==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0415856|Hounddog}} * {{IMDb title|0415856|Hounddog}}
* {{amg title|356926|Hounddog}}
* {{mojo title|hounddog|Hounddog}} * {{mojo title|hounddog|Hounddog}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|1195905-hounddog|Hounddog}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|1195905-hounddog|Hounddog}}
* {{metacritic film|hounddog|Hounddog}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Hounddog}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hounddog}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hounddog}}
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Latest revision as of 23:24, 21 December 2024

2007 American film
Hounddog
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDeborah Kampmeier
Written byDeborah Kampmeier
Produced byDeborah Kampmeier
Robin Wright Penn
Raye Dowell
Jen Gatien
Terry Leonard
Starring
Cinematography
Edited bySabine Hoffmann
Music byGisburg
Production
companies		Empire Film Group
Hannover House
Release date
  • January 22, 2007 (2007-01-22) (Sundance)
Running time102 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget<$4 million
Box office$131,961

Hounddog is a 2007 American coming-of-age drama film written, directed, and produced by Deborah Kampmeier. The film stars Dakota Fanning, Piper Laurie, David Morse, Robin Wright Penn, and Isabelle Fuhrman in her film debut. Filmed near Wilmington, North Carolina and set in 1956 Alabama, the film follows a troubled girl who finds solace from an abusive life through the music of Elvis Presley.

Hounddog premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2007, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, and was given a limited theatrical release on September 19, 2008. Although Fanning was praised for her performance, the film was panned by critics due to a controversial rape scene that was filmed when Fanning was only twelve years old. It was also a commercial failure, grossing $131,961, against an estimated $4 million production budget.

Plot

In 1956, 12-year-old Alabama native Lewellen lives in poverty with her stern, religious grandmother, who has taken it upon herself to raise the girl, as Lewellen's father, Lou, cannot provide her stability. Lou struggles with alcoholism, though he tries his best to make Lewellen happy, such as gifting her an Elvis Presley vinyl record. He even tries to provide a motherly figure for Lewellen by dating a mysterious woman, Ellen, who promised one night to rescue Lewellen from life in the rural South should her relationship with her father fall apart. Ellen is later revealed to be Lewellen's maternal aunt and Grannie's estranged daughter.

Lewellen finds consolation in playing with her best friend Buddy, idling away her last preteen summer with typical outdoor rural pastimes such as swimming in the pond and exploring the woods. Lewellen and Buddy make a new friend, Grasshopper, who is spending the summer with her grandparents. Lewellen begins to idolize Elvis, even more so after she learns he is coming to Alabama for a concert. Lewellen finds that singing Elvis' music is a way to channel her trauma into something constructive and creative. Charles acts as a mentor, imparting wisdom of his snake handler religion to explain this to Lewellen, in other words, how to create something positive out of something venomous and deadly.

Ellen leaves after Lou assaults her, pretending she doesn't know who Lewellen is after her car is towed. Lou is struck by lightning while mowing the lawn, leaving him mentally handicapped, but the thought of Elvis coming to town gives Lewellen the resolve to carry on despite her circumstances. Buddy tells Lewellen that the local milkman, Wooden's Boy, has an Elvis ticket and is willing to give it to her if she does her Elvis dance for him. Just as Lewellen starts singing and dancing, Wooden's Boy tells her to take off her clothes. Lewellen questions doing such an act, but agrees to do so after Buddy tells her it is part of the deal. Once Lewellen finishes, Wooden's Boy unzips his trousers and rapes her while a horrified Buddy looks away.

The assault causes severe emotional trauma for Lewellen that manifests as an illness. During church service, Buddy and Grasshopper laugh at Lewellen, causing her to walk out. Subsequently, Buddy breaks his promise to Lewellen by taking Grasshopper to see Elvis instead. Charles and Grannie are distressed by Lewellen's sudden decline in health, and in fits of feverish illness, she hallucinates being attacked by venomous snakes. Ellen returns to town to take Lewellen with her, but Grannie threatens to kill her if she comes back. Later that day, Charles discovers Ellen has been bitten by a rattlesnake and nurses her back to health.

Charles overhears Wooden's Boy bragging to Buddy about what he did to Lewellen. Enraged, Charles resolves to help Lewellen reclaim her voice by encouraging her to sing "Hound Dog". An emotional Lewellen struggles to sing, but she manages to pull through and reduces Charles and his bandmates to tears. The next morning, Lewellen finds a puppy abandoned on the road, and shortly after, Ellen drives up in her car. Lewellen shows her the puppy and Ellen expresses that she wants Lewellen to go with her now to start a new life together, as she’d promised. While Ellen waits in her car on the side of the road, Lewellen goes to find her grandmother and father one final time, and spots them outside attempting to kill a large, venomous snake. She watches them for a moment from a distance, then calls to her father. He looks to Lewellen and she tells him that she loves him. Lou smiles and replies with, “Yes ma’am” before looking back to the snake. Lewellen says nothing more, then turns and walks away for the last time, leaving her home and old life behind.

Cast

Reception

The film garnered a great deal of attention, and generated intense controversy, owing to the use of a very young actress in a role that included a rape scene far before reaching a consent age. Though the scene only showed Fanning's face and her character's reaction to the trauma of the act, it became known as the "Dakota Fanning rape movie" at the Sundance Film Festival. Fanning expressed ire towards the attacks against her family, most of which she said were directed toward her mother.

Because of the outcry over Hounddog, North Carolina State Senator and minority leader Phil Berger called for all future films made in North Carolina to have their scripts approved in advance if they are to get the normal production subsidy from the state. Berger says that he has not seen the film but is acting in response to what he has read about it.

Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 15% based on reviews from 54 critics, with the website's consensus stating: "Despite a noble effort from Dakota Fanning, Hounddog is overwrought, cliche-ridden and downright exploitative."

Fanning was praised for her performance by Roger Ebert, who compared it to Jodie Foster's in Taxi Driver.

Box office

In its opening weekend of September 19–21, 2008, the film took in $13,744 in 11 theaters. It grossed $131,961 in its entire run.

References

  1. "Keeping Hold of Your Vision—the Making of Hounddog". Women’s Media Center. September 17, 2008. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Hounddog". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  3. "The Motion Picture Group, Inc. co-finances Hound Dog". The Motion Picture Group. September 12, 2006. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  4. ^ Breznican, Anthony (January 23, 2007). "Fanning speaks up on rape scene". USA Today.
  5. "Fanning Controversy". Time. January 24, 2007. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007.
  6. Thomson, Katherine (October 15, 2008). "Dakota Fanning's "Hounddog," The Rape Movie, Savaged On Way To Release". The Huffington Post.
  7. "Republican: Scripts need reviewing – Movie prompts lawmaker's film incentive idea". The Star-News. January 26, 2007. Archived from the original on February 5, 2007.
  8. "Hounddog". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 4, 2013..
  9. Ebert, Roger (September 18, 2008). "Hounddog". Chicago Sun-Times.

External links

Categories: