All Dogs Go to Heaven
All Dogs Go to Heaven is a 1989 American-Irish-British animated musical fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Don Bluth and co-directed by Gary Goldman and Dan Kuenster.[1] It is rated G by the MPAA. The story follows Charlie B. Barkin, a German Shepherd con artist who is murdered by his partner and sent to Heaven, only to return to Earth using a magical watch to seek revenge and protect an orphaned girl named Anne-Marie who can talk to animals.[2] Produced by Goldcrest Films and Sullivan Bluth Studios with a budget of $13.8 million, the film features voice performances by Burt Reynolds as Charlie, Dom DeLuise as his sidekick Itchy Itchiford, and Judith Barsi in her final role as Anne-Marie.[3] Released on November 17, 1989, by United Artists, it grossed $27.1 million at the box office, facing competition from Disney's The Little Mermaid.[4] The film explores themes of redemption, friendship, and the afterlife through its anthropomorphic canine characters set in 1930s New Orleans.[2] Don Bluth, known for his departure from Disney to form his own studio, aimed to create a more mature animated feature independent of major studios, employing around 350 animators in Dublin, Ireland.[1] Original songs by Charles Strouse, T.J. Kuenster, and others, including "You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down," with score by Ralph Burns, complement the narrative's blend of humor, adventure, and emotional depth.[3] Critically mixed upon release, All Dogs Go to Heaven holds a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on contemporary reviews praising its animation and voice acting but critiquing its uneven tone.[5] It spawned sequels, a television series, and merchandise, cementing its place in 1980s animation history despite initial box office challenges.[1] The production was marked by the tragic death of young voice actress Judith Barsi, adding a poignant layer to the film's legacy.[3]Narrative and Characters
Plot
In 1939 New Orleans, Charlie B. Barkin, a German Shepherd con artist who co-owns an illegal casino on a riverboat, escapes from the local dog pound alongside his loyal dachshund friend Itchy Itchiford.[6] Soon after, Charlie's greedy business partner, the bulldog Carface Carruthers, murders him by running him over with a car, and he drowns in the river.[1] Charlie awakens in Heaven, a lush paradise for dogs, where the elegant whippet Annabelle explains that all dogs go to Heaven regardless of their earthly deeds.[5] Unwilling to accept his fate without revenge, Charlie steals a magical golden pocket watch from a heavenly vault that halts time and grants immortality to its bearer, allowing him to return to Earth; however, Annabelle expels him from Heaven for this transgression, warning that the watch's power is temporary.[1] Reuniting with the grieving Itchy, Charlie locates Carface's thriving new casino operation and discovers that Carface has kidnapped an orphaned girl named Anne-Marie, who possesses the unique ability to "whisper" and communicate with animals to predict race outcomes for gambling profits.[6] Posing as her protector to exploit her gift for his own betting schemes on dog races, Charlie takes Anne-Marie into his care, but he gradually forms a genuine bond with her, shielding her from illness and teaching her to trust again.[5] As Charlie's conscience stirs, Carface attacks and destroys Charlie's casino. Tensions escalate in a final confrontation at Carface's casino, where a chaotic brawl starts an oil fire; Charlie defeats Carface and his henchman Killer by causing explosions with oil barrels. Charlie sacrifices his immortality by letting the watch fall into the fire to rescue Anne-Marie, dying once more and experiencing a nightmarish vision of Hell that confronts him with the consequences of his selfish life.[1] Redeemed by his selfless act, Charlie appears as a ghost to bid farewell to Anne-Marie, who recovers and is adopted by a loving farm family (Kate and Harold). He ascends permanently to Heaven, where Annabelle welcomes him, while Carface arrives later, defeated by King Gator.[6]Voice Cast
The voice cast of All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) features a mix of established actors and performers, led by Burt Reynolds in the lead role, with contributions from both human and animal character voices recorded separately before animation integration.[3] The ensemble includes notable talents from film and television, emphasizing charismatic and comedic performances suited to the film's anthropomorphic animal world.[7]| Actor/Actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Burt Reynolds | Charlie B. Barkin |
| Dom DeLuise | Itchy Itchiford |
| Judith Barsi | Anne-Marie |
| Loni Anderson | Flo |
| Vic Tayback | Carface Carruthers |
| Melba Moore | Annabelle |
| Charles Nelson Reilly | King Gator |
| Earleen Carey | Kate |
| Rob Fuller | Harold |
| Lana Beeson | Anne-Marie (singing voice) |
| Daryl Gilley | Dog Caster |
Production
Development
Following his departure from Disney in 1979, animator Don Bluth established Don Bluth Productions with key collaborators Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy to pursue independent animated features, marking a significant venture outside major studio control. After facing financial challenges and two studio bankruptcies, Irish-American businessman Morris Sullivan provided a $5 million investment in 1985, leading to the formation of Sullivan Bluth Studios. To capitalize on lower labor costs and government incentives, the studio relocated to Dublin, Ireland, in 1986, where it received a grant for 5% Irish government ownership and built a 42,000-square-foot facility employing over 350 local workers.[13][14] The initial concept for All Dogs Go to Heaven originated as a canine-themed twist on afterlife narratives, drawing inspiration from It's a Wonderful Life and centered on anthropomorphic dogs navigating moral redemption. Screenwriter David N. Weiss was hired by Bluth for a rewrite, crafting the screenplay that refined the story's focus on themes of heaven, hell, and personal atonement through multiple drafts. Key creative decisions emphasized a mature tone, incorporating darker elements such as murder and gambling to appeal to broader audiences beyond traditional children's fare, while early character designs portrayed protagonist Charlie as a German Shepherd mix.[15][1] Funding for the project was secured with a $13.8 million budget from Goldcrest Films and Sullivan Bluth Studios, bolstered by the commercial success of Bluth's prior film The Land Before Time (1988). Pre-production commenced in November 1987 with six months dedicated to storyboarding and concept art, targeting a 1989 release, as the studio aimed to leverage its Irish base for efficient overseas production.[1][16]Animation and Design
The animation of All Dogs Go to Heaven was produced using traditional hand-drawn cel techniques at Sullivan Bluth Studios in Dublin, Ireland, where a crew of approximately 350 Irish workers contributed to the project. This classical approach emphasized full animation at 24 frames per second, contrasting with the limited animation trends of the era that often used 6-8 frames per second to cut costs. The studio generated over 1,500,000 drawings in total, with around 130,000 selected for the final edit, allowing for fluid and expressive motion in the anthropomorphic dog characters, such as Charlie B. Barkin's sly and charismatic movements. Influences from Disney's Golden Age are evident in the detailed line work and character posing, but Bluth's direction introduced an edgier tone with more dynamic camera angles and surreal dream sequences, including the ethereal depiction of Heaven and the nightmarish Hell, to heighten emotional impact.[1][17] Character designs prioritized expressiveness to convey personality and emotion, with Charlie featuring a mischievous grin and agile posture to reflect his roguish nature, while Anne-Marie's wide-eyed innocence highlighted her vulnerability as an orphan. Directing animator Linda Miller contributed to key sequences, overseeing the fluid integration of human and animal forms. Backgrounds captured the jazz-era aesthetics of 1939 New Orleans, incorporating elements like riverboats, Mardi Gras festivities, and foggy bayous to immerse viewers in the Prohibition-era setting, supported by over 3,000 research photographs for authenticity. Live-action reference footage was employed for Anne-Marie's scenes, filmed with a child actress and a married couple to ensure natural gestures and interactions.[1][17][18] Voice recording sessions took place primarily in the United States, including Burbank, California, and Miami, Florida, with director Don Bluth overseeing the process to capture nuanced performances; principal voices like Burt Reynolds (Charlie) and Dom DeLuise (Itchy) were recorded together to facilitate natural dialogue timing and ad-libs, aiding later lip-sync integration. Lip-sync for animal characters presented challenges due to their non-human mouths, requiring animators to adapt mouth shapes for readability while maintaining realism, often using exaggerated expressions to match the comedic and emotional tones. Judith Barsi's recordings as Anne-Marie, completed before her tragic death in July 1988, were posthumously integrated without dubbing, including her emotional delivery in key scenes, adding a layer of heartfelt authenticity to the synchronization. Additional sessions occurred in Dublin for supporting roles.[1][17] Production spanned 19 months from November 1987, with six months dedicated to pre-production, highlighting the logistical challenges of coordinating between the Irish animation facility and U.S.-based voice work and financing. The overseas setup, funded partly by the Irish government and a $13.8 million budget split between Goldcrest Films and the studio, relied on transatlantic communication to align visuals with audio tracks, ensuring the film's cohesive blend of whimsy and darker themes. Despite financial strains from prior studio bankruptcies, this period marked a commitment to high-quality cel animation amid growing competition from limited-animation practices.[1]Music
The score for All Dogs Go to Heaven was composed by Ralph Burns, incorporating jazz, gospel, and orchestral elements to evoke the film's 1930s New Orleans atmosphere, with distinctive cues such as an angelic choir for heavenly scenes and dissonant, fiery tones for depictions of Hell.[19][20] Burns, a veteran composer known for his work on films like Cabaret (1972), produced the soundtrack album alongside Roy Simpson, with arrangements by T.J. Kuenster for the vocal tracks.[21] The score features 13 tracks in total, blending instrumental pieces with songs to underscore emotional transitions in the story, from chaotic underworld antics to moments of redemption. The film includes eight original songs, primarily written by Charles Strouse (music and lyrics) with contributions from T.J. Kuenster, Al Kasha, and Joel Hirschhorn, integrated directly into plot points to reveal character motivations and advance the narrative.[22] These numbers draw stylistic inspiration from classic American musicals, opting for a grounded, character-driven tone rather than elaborate Broadway production to suit the film's blend of humor and pathos.[23] Vocal performances were provided by the principal voice cast, supplemented by professional singers and a children's choir for choral elements.[21] Key songs include:- Love Survives (main title and end credits): Written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn; performed by Irene Cara and Freddie Jackson. This uplifting ballad frames the film's themes of loyalty and afterlife, playing over the opening and closing sequences.[22]
- You Can't Keep a Good Dog Down: Written by Charles Strouse; performed by Burt Reynolds (Charlie) and Dom DeLuise (Itchy). Sung early in the film as the duo schemes their return from the afterlife, highlighting their resilient partnership.[22]
- Let Me Be Surprised: Written by Charles Strouse; performed by Burt Reynolds (Charlie) and Melba Moore (Annabelle). A tender duet during Charlie's heavenly visit, expressing wonder and foreshadowing his moral growth.[22]
- Soon You'll Come Home: Written by T.J. Kuenster; performed by Lana Beeson (Anne-Marie). A lullaby-like piece sung by the orphan girl, emphasizing themes of protection and farewell.[22]
- Let's Make Music Together: Written by Charles Strouse; performed by Burt Reynolds (Charlie) and Ken Page (King Gator). This lively jazz-infused number occurs during a bayou encounter, aiding Charlie's escape while showcasing the film's New Orleans flair.[22]
- Hallelujah: Written by T.J. Kuenster; performed by Candy Devine. A gospel-tinged end credits song.[22]