Just like how legendary men or women are represented in movies, so have our heroic war dogs throughout the history of mankind.
One of our most trusted companions since the ancient age has been the loyal four-legged animals, dogs.
They have been and always will be the most loved kind of pet to ever exist. They have served as war dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs, etc, for a long time.
Now war dogs are a special type of pet that has proven their heroism and loyalty on several occasions. Their uses have varied over time, but they continue to serve in the age of modern warfare.
War dogs in movies
Now as mentioned above, war dogs have been featured in many films over the passing years to show their loyalty and perseverance on the battlefields where they served. 7 of such war dog movies based on true stories are given down below with ratings and all the details:
| Movie name | Premier Date | Ratings |
Megan Leavey | June 9, 2017 | IMDb rating: 7.1/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86% |
Finding Rin Tin Tin | September 16, 2008 | IMDb rating: 5/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 50% |
War Dog: A Soldier’s best friend | 2017 | IMDb rating: 7.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: N/A |
War dogs of the Pacific | April 8, 2009 | IMDb rating: 8.7/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: N/A |
Always Faithful | November 17, 2014 | IMDb rating: 8.2/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: N/A |
Max | June 26, 2015 | IMDb rating: 6.6/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 38% |
Sgt Stubby: An American Hero | March 27, 2018 | IMDb rating: 6.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes rating: 89% |
1. “Megan Leavey”Â
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Cast: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Tim Lovestedt, Pamela Gray, Annie Mumulo
This movie is based on the true life history of Marine Corporal Megan Leavey and her war dog, Rex. The movie shows us their journey as they serve through two deployments in Iran. They suffer many injuries but they eventually recover from their past. Megan is able to adopt her beloved war dog, Rex after which they return home and begin adjusting to normal life.
2. “Finding Rin Tin Tin”Â
Director: Danny Lerner
Cast: David Rolland, Jim Tierney
This movie depicts the true life story of the famous war dog Rin Tin Tin. The story begins with the then Colonel Lee Duncan in France during World War I rescuing a stray mother dog with her puppies. He then keeps his favorite from among the puppies, Rin Tin Tin. He enlists the help of an expert dog handler to teach and train Rin Tin Tin skills for the battlefield. For example, bringing first aid to wounded soldiers on the field. Afterward, Rin Tin Tin goes back home with Colonel Duncan and becomes famous by starring in 14 feature films!
3. “War Dog: A Soldier’s best friend”Â
Director: Deborah Scranton
Cast: Trent McDonald, Donovan Hunter, Dave Nielsen, John Dixon, Paul Leslie
This war documentary is a tribute to the heroic K9 war dogs that served in the military. This feature film shows us an in-depth view of the relationship between war dogs and their handlers throughout their military career and through war. It gives us a true description of the unwavering loyalty in canines.
4. “War Dogs of the Pacific”
Director: Harris Done
Cast: Gregg Henry, William W. Putney
This war documentary tells us about the Marine war dog platoons that served in World War II. This feature shows us how the canines developed a close eccentric and personal bond with the Marines. Their bondage is unwavering throughout saving countless lives and through tough missions.
5. “Always Faithful”
Directors: James Moll, Harris Done
Cast: Bryan Manthey, Brendan Poelaert, Vincent Webb, Mike Dowling, Alexandria Lopez
This is another war documentary that depicts the life of the Marine Corps war dogs. These specific canines served with diligence during World War II, one of the most brutal conflicts to ever occur in the history of mankind.
6. “Max”Â
Director: Boaz Yakin
Cast: Josh Wiggins, Mia Xitlali, Robbie Amell, Thomas Haden Church, David J. Flores, Lauren Graham, Luke Kleintank, Raymond W. Beal, Dejon LaQuake, Thomas La Marche, Jay Hernandez, Joseph Julian Soria, Owen Harn, Zeeko Zaki, Miles Mussenden, Ethan Alexander McGee, Ian Gregg, Edgar Arreola, Pete Burris, Christian Brunetti, Andrene Ward-Hammond, Joan Q. Scott, Jason Davis, Carlos, Gabriel Rush
This war drama film is based on the true story of a dog named Max. It follows the journey of the military dog, Max who suffers from trauma due to his services. He had to be rehabilitated before he could go back to his human companions to rejoin service.
7. “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero”
Director: Richard Lanni
Cast: Logan Lerman, Jim Pharr, Jason Ezzell, Gérard Depardieu, Helena Bonham Carter, Pierre-Marie Rochefort Schneider, Jordan Beck, Claire Gordon Webster, Christophe Lemoine, Guillaume Sentou, Audrey Sablé, Brian Cook, Adam James, Nigel Pilkington, Leemore Marett Jr, Fabrice Trojani, Will Adamsdale
This animated biographical war film tells us the true story of a stray mutt by the name of Sgt. Stubby. Soldiers adopted him for training to serve in World War I, and he quickly became a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Conclusion
Military war dogs have, do, and always will greatly contribute to our world. They play a vital role in the military field by detecting enemy threats on the frontline for our soldiers and protecting them while they engage in battle. Hence, they have been featured in many films to show us their incredible contributions. So don’t forget to watch the 7 war dog movies based on true stories above and get a peek into the world of our loyal canines who have served humankind with perseverance.
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