Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen

I just read the best historical fiction novel! I have always loved historical fiction, but I also love film history. And I also love dogs, because what kind of person doesn't love dogs?

Candace Fleming's account of Strongheart, the dog film star of the 1920's, reads quickly and easily.

The story is told mostly through text, but the pencil drawings by Eric Rohmann are evocative, and really tug at the heartstrings. Furthermore, the sequences of black and white illustrations that do not have any text in them makes the reader feel like she is watching a silent movie.

Like many film stars, past and present, his career was not without scandal. A couple claimed that he attacked and "tried to eat" their daughter; they had orchestrated the whole event in order to sue the film studio. Strongheart's name was cleared, and he went on to make more films.

Because he was such a celebrity, his name and visage became a brand, marketing to dog owners and film-goers alike. His name appeared on dog food, dog training schools, even household groceries like lettuce:

He even had a famous romance, with another dog. Jule, a female German Shepherd, was discovered in a nationwide search to find a 'leading lady' for America's four-legged film star. They did have puppies together, and the family bloodline is still in tact today.

In 1929, Strongheart accidentally came into contact with a hot studio light while filming and was badly burned. He never fully recovered, and he died a few months afterwards.

Sadly, only one film of Strongheart's remains now; the others have all been lost. There is a version of The Return of Boston Blackie available for free on Youtube, if you're interested:

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dog stories, or is interested in film, or anyone who enjoys novels with illustrations that assist in telling the story.