Paul Ramsey (the under-appreciated Gregg Henry) is a musician traveling home to his loving wife Linda (Kay Lenz). When his car breaks down, he's picked up by a rich couple (Tina Louise and William Windom), but soon regrets his luck when a hit and run accident occurs, and the couple railroad their new hitchhiking buddy. Soon Paul is serving time in a hellish desert prison camp run by tough Captain Kinsman (George Kennedy) and his even tougher subordinate, former jarhead Sergeant Wacker (James Wainwright in a truly hiss-worthy performance). What makes Mean Dog Blues such a good film is Henry's ability to portray a character in control of his destiny, even when things seem completely OUT of control. He displays an almost zen-like calm and a dry sense of humor that disarms gay inmate Jesus Gonzalez (Gregory Sierra), and soon insinuates himself into 'trusty' status when 'dog n****r' Mudcat (Scatman Crothers) loses his job--serving as training bait for the prison's hunting dogs, who include a particularly nasty Doberman called Rattler. As his cellmate Tonto (Gene Silva) tells him, it's the worst job in the camp, and he's in for a lot of fresh air and exercise. Meanwhile, newly pregnant Linda is working feverishly to have his conviction overturned. Will Paul taste the sweet fresh air of freedom, or will Rattler rip his throat oat before Sergeant Wacker does? You'll have to watch to find out. Sadly unavailable on home video, Mean Dog Blues recently popped up on Flix in a beautiful widescreen print. Be sure not to miss it next time they air it. Please note that the 'prohibited word' asterisked in this review is lifted directly from the screenplay, and in no way represents my own opinions.
4 Reviews
But I still... Got the blues... For my Dobermann!
Coventry27 September 2022
Hey kids, if nothing else, at least let this film be the ultimate reminder for you to never step into a car with a driver who has been drinking! You always end up paying for his/her mistakes and stupidities, one way or another!
In "Mean Dog Blues", the poor aspiring musician Paul Ramsey even sees his life turning into a living hell, as he takes the blame for a hit-and-run accident he didn't cause and gets sentenced to a rural prison farm that answers to every possible cliché or stereotype you can think of; - including sadistic wardens, viciously hungry Dobermann guard dogs, and rapist fellow inmates! While the production values are good, the basic plot is compelling, and the film benefices from several strong performances, the typical prison drama situations are overly familiar. There are too many dull and repetitive sequences, and I honestly think the film would have been more impactful if it was 15-20 minutes shorter. George Kennedy is a fantastic actor, and I'm a big fan, but his character of obsessive doggie-loving head-warden certainly isn't the highlight of his career.
In "Mean Dog Blues", the poor aspiring musician Paul Ramsey even sees his life turning into a living hell, as he takes the blame for a hit-and-run accident he didn't cause and gets sentenced to a rural prison farm that answers to every possible cliché or stereotype you can think of; - including sadistic wardens, viciously hungry Dobermann guard dogs, and rapist fellow inmates! While the production values are good, the basic plot is compelling, and the film benefices from several strong performances, the typical prison drama situations are overly familiar. There are too many dull and repetitive sequences, and I honestly think the film would have been more impactful if it was 15-20 minutes shorter. George Kennedy is a fantastic actor, and I'm a big fan, but his character of obsessive doggie-loving head-warden certainly isn't the highlight of his career.
barely watchable
Ajtlawyer8 September 2007
Warning: Spoilers
"Mean Dog Blues" has the look and feel of a rather poorly made TV show and since director Mel Stuart spent most of his career making documentaries, that isn't unexpected (although he was an Oscar nominee back in 1964 for a documentary!).
Gregg Henry was making his first big screen appearance as musician Paul Ramsey who is en route to Nashville (but looks like he's in New Mexico) when his car breaks down. He hitches a ride with a politician, William Windom, and his on-the-make wife, Tina Louise. When they stop at a restaurant Windom goes to get boozed up while Tina returns to the car with the intent of seducing Ramsey but he rebuffs her (he's married, after all). Totally drunk, Windom returns to the car, they drive off and he runs over a child in the dark. Paul takes over the driving and they return to the accident scene where he's arrested and Windom and Louise perjure themselves to save Windom's career. Paul goes to prison and is sent to a brutal prison farm run by George Kennedy and the usual assortment of psycho guards. Kennedy also has his Doberman Pincsher, "Rattler" there to help chase down anyone who tries to escape.
Once the story reaches the prison, the entire movie drags. Paul seems extremely unworried about going to prison and befriends a gay Hispanic prisoner played by Gregory Sierra (a big step down from his previous prison picture, "Papillon"). Paul of course witnesses all of the brutality of the prison and knows his life's at stake if he doesn't find a way to make life easier. He does this by becoming the "Dog N****r" (the movie's name for him, not mine) and this entails going on daily couple hour long training runs while being chased by the tracking dogs and occasionally by Rattler. You'd think that the other prisoners would use this time to escape---at least a couple of the guards and most of the dogs are out for a couple hours a day chasing Paul and you wonder who's back at camp to chase any real escapees.
One of the psycho guards finally has it in for Paul and is going to kill him; Kennedy wants to kill him as well when he believes that Paul is trying to seduce his daughter (he isn't but she has a body worth risking one's life for!). What Paul doesn't know is that Tina Louise has convinced her husband to secure Paul's pardon and release from prison. Not knowing that, but believing the guards will surely kill him, Paul has to try and escape. Will he get away in time? You'll have to watch to find out.
The movie is extremely low budget. How Oscar winner George Kennedy ended up in this movie I have no idea, especially since he'd been in one of the all-time great prison movies, "Cool Hand Luke". He must've really needed a paycheck. The only reason I even watched the movie at all was to see Tina Louise who was 35 when she made this movie in 1979 and she looks great in it. A late scene in the movie has Tina getting a professional massage and it is as close to a nude scene as she ever did in a movie. Not quite an R rating but tantalizingly close. Still, she actually does a very good job in this movie and gives her character some depth while everyone else in the movie are caricatures.
Gregg Henry was making his first big screen appearance as musician Paul Ramsey who is en route to Nashville (but looks like he's in New Mexico) when his car breaks down. He hitches a ride with a politician, William Windom, and his on-the-make wife, Tina Louise. When they stop at a restaurant Windom goes to get boozed up while Tina returns to the car with the intent of seducing Ramsey but he rebuffs her (he's married, after all). Totally drunk, Windom returns to the car, they drive off and he runs over a child in the dark. Paul takes over the driving and they return to the accident scene where he's arrested and Windom and Louise perjure themselves to save Windom's career. Paul goes to prison and is sent to a brutal prison farm run by George Kennedy and the usual assortment of psycho guards. Kennedy also has his Doberman Pincsher, "Rattler" there to help chase down anyone who tries to escape.
Once the story reaches the prison, the entire movie drags. Paul seems extremely unworried about going to prison and befriends a gay Hispanic prisoner played by Gregory Sierra (a big step down from his previous prison picture, "Papillon"). Paul of course witnesses all of the brutality of the prison and knows his life's at stake if he doesn't find a way to make life easier. He does this by becoming the "Dog N****r" (the movie's name for him, not mine) and this entails going on daily couple hour long training runs while being chased by the tracking dogs and occasionally by Rattler. You'd think that the other prisoners would use this time to escape---at least a couple of the guards and most of the dogs are out for a couple hours a day chasing Paul and you wonder who's back at camp to chase any real escapees.
One of the psycho guards finally has it in for Paul and is going to kill him; Kennedy wants to kill him as well when he believes that Paul is trying to seduce his daughter (he isn't but she has a body worth risking one's life for!). What Paul doesn't know is that Tina Louise has convinced her husband to secure Paul's pardon and release from prison. Not knowing that, but believing the guards will surely kill him, Paul has to try and escape. Will he get away in time? You'll have to watch to find out.
The movie is extremely low budget. How Oscar winner George Kennedy ended up in this movie I have no idea, especially since he'd been in one of the all-time great prison movies, "Cool Hand Luke". He must've really needed a paycheck. The only reason I even watched the movie at all was to see Tina Louise who was 35 when she made this movie in 1979 and she looks great in it. A late scene in the movie has Tina getting a professional massage and it is as close to a nude scene as she ever did in a movie. Not quite an R rating but tantalizingly close. Still, she actually does a very good job in this movie and gives her character some depth while everyone else in the movie are caricatures.
Lets Get This On DVD!!!!
umassjsp9 June 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I remember seeing this on a Summer night when we first got HBO circa 1981. The lead actor resembled my basketball idol Larry Bird who had just came to town to save my Boston Celtics. I am a runner and there is a lot of distance running in this movie as the prisoners are hunted by the guard dogs. Kay Lenz was smoking hot in this picture and the scene where a guard tries to force himself on her made me want to kick the guys butt thru the TV. For some reason this film has always been in my memory and I would love to have a DVD. George Kennedy and the other guards were mean SOBs. This is a poor mans Shawshank Redemption but should be viewed by all!
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