User Reviews

It is very rare in movies when a dog gets to play a member of the opposite sex, and in the case of Higgins (who originated the role of Benji), it was playing the adorable lost pup picked up by a variety of Hollywood personalities, seemingly longing to become the canine version of Raquel Welch. But, as we learn through the narration of none other than Zsa Zsa Gabor, it is a jungle on the streets of Hollywood and even in Beverly Hills, where he ends up at a big Hollywood party hosted by none other than Mr. Magoo himself, Jim Backus.

Along the way, he encounters such stars as Vincent Price, James Darren and Jill St. John who all take an interest in the forlorn pup. At one point, the cute doggie even ends up with false eyelashes on. If you are like me, you sometimes shiver at the ridiculous outfits people put on their beloved Fido, and Mooch here is no exception. The whole thing is silly really, but fun, as it is almost an analogy of why sometimes pursuing a career in Hollywood can be a dangerous thing for a young girl to aspire to.

This really is more interesting for the variety of stars who appear in unbilled cameos, from Mickey Rooney and Phyllis Diller, to Cesar Romero and Edward G. Robinson to name a few. Shots of old Hollywood Blvd. and the surrounding area are interesting as far as a travelogue goes, and there is also a bittersweet ending to it all which in some ways is quite profound.

Now available on an excellent Alpha DVD, this is a rather amateurish production. Somehow despite the boring and totally uninventive script, undistinguished direction and cheesy production values, some of Hollywood's finest agreed to participate in this venture, including a most unflatteringly photographed Vincent Price, the lovely Jill St. John (I always wondered if she pronounced her name British style – "Sinjin" – or American style – "Saint John"), Jim Backus and James Darren. Other stars such as Edward G. Robinson, Cesar Romero and Mickey Rooney are glimpsed but briefly. Perhaps they were lucky not to have been afforded the full treatment given the luckless Mr. Price. Although the movie – designed for TV naturally – runs only 51 minutes, it seems more like 121! However, despite all its defects and deficiencies, there are worst films on the market as Alpha's companion piece to Mooch, namely Dog Crazy (1947), amply demonstrates. For this one, Sterling Holloway is the unlucky star bested by a talking dog. The movie, originally one of the "Speaking of Animals" series, is so ineptly directed by Robert Carlisle, it's enough to turn you off Sterling for life!

This is the craziest - and creepiest- movie ever made. Mooch - Zsa Zsa's voice- narrates constantly. The plot's based on the conceit that Zsa Zsa is giving the dog-heroine, Mooch, advice on "getting ahead in Hollywood".. it's WEIRD.. all-star cast including a horrifyingly evil Vincent Price and- apparently- Richard Burton. Mickey Rooney too.. plus Phyllis Diller and Jill St. John and Marty Allen. The director, James Backus, was the original Mr. Magoo.. and morphs into Magoo towards the end. I guess this may have been a kid's.. or family.. movie- there's an extended hate-dirty-hippies sequence, anyway- but it seems like it's about to turn into porn at any moment. Totally sick & unintermittent comparison of women to animals. It's insane.

Oh my god it's Doggie Porn. Mooch is this Benji type dog that can do some tricks and wears some cute OUTFITS, warning warning. 'She' goes to Hollywood, apparently to screw her way to the top if you can believe the incessant and ludicrous narration from Zsa Zsa Gabor. But how are you gonna reach the top when your only ins are Vincent Price, Mickey Rooney, and James Darren? All of whom take turns running toward Mooch on the beach in slow motion. When Jim Backus takes his turn he's got what looks like a tumor on his nose but apparently he's been made up to look like Mr. Magoo. I was thinking it was pretty low for the filmmakers to put Backus through such demeaning paces, but I check the back cover and he wrote it himself! I had constructed a scenario in my head where it was Gabor's dog in real life and she got her latest husband to bankroll it. I didn't think there was any other possible excuse. I love human beings and think they are basically intelligent and capable, but the positive commentary on this movie elsewhere on this page is a SOLID case for the opposing view. Then again, the box is warning enough to anyone who isn't already disposed to dog-gasms. I swear I only got it because the sale was six for ten bucks and I was short one.

Family-safe and quick enough not to get boring, it's a cute little story of a mutt trying to make it big in Hollywood, with the advice of Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Cinematically, this movie will never be on a "best of" list, but it's a truly unique little work and will be of interest to old-movie buffs like myself. Co-written, co-produced, and co-starring Jim Backus (Thurston Howell III, voice of Mr. Magoo), there are quick cameos and voiceovers from a wide range of Hollywood legends.

Spoiler alert! The actors seen and heard make up quite a list, including, among others, Edward G. Robinson (in what must be one of his last appearances), Dean Martin, Mickey Rooney, Darren McGavin, and even...Richard Burton!