I seem to remember this film being a pretty big hit when it came out in 1972 and it's easy to understand why. It's a fast paced tale of five doberman pinschers who hold up a bank and get away with the loot. There are some rather dull human beings around but pay them no attention--this is all about the dogs.
26 Reviews
the dog'gonest gang you ever did see...
Mr_K_Williams30 May 2002
I really liked this film, I thought it was a good, fun romp and I liked the mix of light-hearted moments and the slightly grittier more exciting parts.
I will admit that I also loved the two main songs in the film aswell -the theme tune and the romantic one, really enjoyed them, 70's or not!
And of course there were lots of beautiful, precious doggies - who are (as others so rightly pointed out) the real stars of the film!, the main human leads were all solid but forgettable.
Overall pretty good, and the ending is just perfect, see this fun film if you can.
I will admit that I also loved the two main songs in the film aswell -the theme tune and the romantic one, really enjoyed them, 70's or not!
And of course there were lots of beautiful, precious doggies - who are (as others so rightly pointed out) the real stars of the film!, the main human leads were all solid but forgettable.
Overall pretty good, and the ending is just perfect, see this fun film if you can.
You Can Rely On Dogs
boblipton6 January 2020
Crime planner Byron Mabe is tired of having his beautifully worked out robberies loused up when one of the books fails to follow follow the plan or tries to double-cross him. So he hires a dog trainer and buys a bunch of Doberman Pinschers to execute a bank robbery.
It's almost a Disney film, with its love of animals and twangy, country-western score, except for the implied sex out of wedlock, blood from the Dobies savaging people upon command and, oh yeah, the fact that a bunch of crooks are the heroes of the movie. Most of the movie is taken up with the planning and training stages, and by the time the robbery takes place, the audience pretty much knows how it will go. Yet the wackiness of the entire scheme more than makes up for the lack of well-known performers.
Director Byron Chudnow had spent much of his career up to this as a TV editor, and it does have the pacing and look of something from that medium. Certainly, he paces the movie very well, and it was sufficiently successful to result in two sequels; a 'reboot' is currently scheduled for release in 2022.
It's almost a Disney film, with its love of animals and twangy, country-western score, except for the implied sex out of wedlock, blood from the Dobies savaging people upon command and, oh yeah, the fact that a bunch of crooks are the heroes of the movie. Most of the movie is taken up with the planning and training stages, and by the time the robbery takes place, the audience pretty much knows how it will go. Yet the wackiness of the entire scheme more than makes up for the lack of well-known performers.
Director Byron Chudnow had spent much of his career up to this as a TV editor, and it does have the pacing and look of something from that medium. Certainly, he paces the movie very well, and it was sufficiently successful to result in two sequels; a 'reboot' is currently scheduled for release in 2022.
Amiable low-budget caper movie
Wizard-84 October 2003
Training 6 doberman dogs to rob a bank? Actually, this outlandish premise is executed with far more believability than you'd think. The criminals behind the dogs are not portrayed as buffoons or as totally unredeemable; in fact, they are pretty likable guys for the most part. (And - shock of all shocks - it's the Vietnam veteran character who comes across as the most sympathetic!) As well, we are taken through the plan step by step, seeing how they slowly train the dogs and deal with any potential problems that come up during the way. It's a little dry at times (the low budget doesn't exactly make it flashy), but never does it get really boring. The only thing I question about the movie is how it got a "G" rating, given a couple of (mild, admitedly) love scenes and a couple of *seriously* bloody sequences! Those bloody sequences really shatter the agreeably fluffy and light tone, and make it questionable as a family movie. Despite that, the movie was pretty successful, subsequently generating two theatrical sequels and one made-for-TV movie.
I rewatched it after years.
yolcu_yolunda_gerek14 May 2020
When I saw this movie on IMDb I remembered it from my childhood.
At that time, It had disturbed me in someway but I couldn't remember why. So I decided to rewatch.
The story is simpler than I remember. I liked it this time. Although the quality is very very low and acting is looking so cheap, anyway, the idea is original. Maybe it should be remade with a better execution.
Finally I solved the reason why I was disturbed. It was about the final flick. I thought that was not fair in that time, but I changed my mind. It is very cool.
I recommend it in your free time for killing time.
The story is simpler than I remember. I liked it this time. Although the quality is very very low and acting is looking so cheap, anyway, the idea is original. Maybe it should be remade with a better execution.
Finally I solved the reason why I was disturbed. It was about the final flick. I thought that was not fair in that time, but I changed my mind. It is very cool.
I recommend it in your free time for killing time.
one of the dumbest movies of the 70s- which means, more or less, that it's also awesome
Quinoa198412 April 2007
I had to make sure not to lose it too much during the Doberman Gang, because simply put it's got the goofiest premise one could ever think to not imagine: dogs that rob banks. You got it, simply put, and trained by bank robbers who'd rather let the mutts get it done then do it themselves, in an elaborate scheme involving whistles made for each dog, OVER-elaborate training montages teaching the dogs how to, well, jump and bite the crap out of people, and throwing in a really inane romantic triangle between three main characters- the mastermind behind the caper, a waitress, and the dogs' trainer- leading up to an ending that had me laughing my head off not even caring what the hell had just happened. If I tried to explain it all it would make even less sense and one would wonder how in Heaven's name something like this could get funding. Well, it was the 70s, and movies like this filled a niche for kids wanting a quick fix of delirious hijinks and adults wanting a good nap. As an adult myself, however, the delirious part had me from start to finish.
It's not just the dogs and getting trained, or how the robbery is planned and the dogs meant to be dispatched (and the wretched ways the filmmakers get around making it violent, but not quite violent enough for an R at the time), or the extraordinarily cheesy songs (by Alan Silvestri no less!), or that the filmmakers decided to throw in an unbelievably underdeveloped sub-plot involving the three main characters- scuse me, caricatures- or even that one of the bank robbers looks very oddly like Kurt Vonnegut. Actually, it's a sum of this and more, and it's got enough to laugh about for days. There's not a slice of logic to the proceedings, and one can figure on director Bryon Chudnow, who with one obscure exception directed nothing BUT Doberman movies for the rest of his career afterwords (yes, more than one; they even got Fred Astaire for the third movie), likes it that way. Bank robbery, of course, is never an easy thing, but the central joy of the Doberman Gang is that it's meant to look like it's nothing when planned to a T. In the midst of all this, dramatic tension or suspense is at zero, and the line between what may be meant as sick jokes or just so-serious-it's-funny bits (like the dog that, sad to say, get's run over, and the dog that comes by and just snatched up the leftover money).
In truth, some of it is almost too goofy to really get into, and for kids that could in some weird chance come across it today some jokes will fly over heads (Bonnie and Clyde as names of the Dobermans, J. Edgar Hoover as the bulldog, who is maybe the most convincing and well-rounded character in the picture if that says anything). But for a certain section of fans of B-movies of the 1970s looking for something not as trashy or rough as an AIP picture may want to take a glance at this crazy turkey that, unfortunately in this day and age, could conceivably get a remake someday if it has not yet.
It's not just the dogs and getting trained, or how the robbery is planned and the dogs meant to be dispatched (and the wretched ways the filmmakers get around making it violent, but not quite violent enough for an R at the time), or the extraordinarily cheesy songs (by Alan Silvestri no less!), or that the filmmakers decided to throw in an unbelievably underdeveloped sub-plot involving the three main characters- scuse me, caricatures- or even that one of the bank robbers looks very oddly like Kurt Vonnegut. Actually, it's a sum of this and more, and it's got enough to laugh about for days. There's not a slice of logic to the proceedings, and one can figure on director Bryon Chudnow, who with one obscure exception directed nothing BUT Doberman movies for the rest of his career afterwords (yes, more than one; they even got Fred Astaire for the third movie), likes it that way. Bank robbery, of course, is never an easy thing, but the central joy of the Doberman Gang is that it's meant to look like it's nothing when planned to a T. In the midst of all this, dramatic tension or suspense is at zero, and the line between what may be meant as sick jokes or just so-serious-it's-funny bits (like the dog that, sad to say, get's run over, and the dog that comes by and just snatched up the leftover money).
In truth, some of it is almost too goofy to really get into, and for kids that could in some weird chance come across it today some jokes will fly over heads (Bonnie and Clyde as names of the Dobermans, J. Edgar Hoover as the bulldog, who is maybe the most convincing and well-rounded character in the picture if that says anything). But for a certain section of fans of B-movies of the 1970s looking for something not as trashy or rough as an AIP picture may want to take a glance at this crazy turkey that, unfortunately in this day and age, could conceivably get a remake someday if it has not yet.
Absurd but ingratiating crime caper.
Hey_Sweden18 August 2018
Eddie (Byron Mabe, "The Defilers") is a career criminal who's frustrated because he knows that human error can always derail otherwise well-planned heists. Then one night he witnesses some guard dogs in action, and is impressed by their intelligence and intimidation factor. Now he's got an ingenious plan: stage a bank robbery using Dobermans as the participants! He enlists the services of a veteran animal handler (Hal Reed, "The Zodiac Killer") soon to muster out of military service. Of course, the handler has more scruples than anybody else in the gang.
At first, this viewer thought that this might make for pretty good, agreeably ridiculous family fare, but that's hampered somewhat by some violence and gore (and unpleasantness) near the end, not to mention the disagreeable attitude of Eddie, who's really a major league prick. The human cast deliver good performances; Julie Parrish ('Good Morning, World'), Simmy Bow ("Beetlejuice"), and JoJo D'Amore ("Alligator") round out the main cast. But it's the four legged cast members - given names like Pretty Boy Floyd, Dillinger, and Bonnie & Clyde - that win your hearts as they steal the loot.
As with any heist movie, the story (concocted by Frank Ray Perilli ("Dracula's Dog") and Louis Garfinkle ("The Deer Hunter")) devotes much time to the intense preparation, and the viewer will marvel at the first-rate animal action, supervised by Karl Lewis Miller and Lou Schumacher, old hands at that sort of thing for many years. It's also noteworthy for being the earliest screen credit for the great film composer Alan Silvestri, who wrote the score (and songs) with Bradford Craig. Yes, this being a 70s flick, there is the standard inclusion of theme songs. But that ditty "Dog Honest Gang" is pretty catchy.
Followed by three sequels.
Seven out of 10.
At first, this viewer thought that this might make for pretty good, agreeably ridiculous family fare, but that's hampered somewhat by some violence and gore (and unpleasantness) near the end, not to mention the disagreeable attitude of Eddie, who's really a major league prick. The human cast deliver good performances; Julie Parrish ('Good Morning, World'), Simmy Bow ("Beetlejuice"), and JoJo D'Amore ("Alligator") round out the main cast. But it's the four legged cast members - given names like Pretty Boy Floyd, Dillinger, and Bonnie & Clyde - that win your hearts as they steal the loot.
As with any heist movie, the story (concocted by Frank Ray Perilli ("Dracula's Dog") and Louis Garfinkle ("The Deer Hunter")) devotes much time to the intense preparation, and the viewer will marvel at the first-rate animal action, supervised by Karl Lewis Miller and Lou Schumacher, old hands at that sort of thing for many years. It's also noteworthy for being the earliest screen credit for the great film composer Alan Silvestri, who wrote the score (and songs) with Bradford Craig. Yes, this being a 70s flick, there is the standard inclusion of theme songs. But that ditty "Dog Honest Gang" is pretty catchy.
Followed by three sequels.
Seven out of 10.
An okay 1970's drive-in movie
pmtelefon5 January 2020
I remember liking "The Doberman Gang" when I was a kid. Watching it today, the thrill is gone. It's an okay low budget heist movie. The dogs are great. The people are okay. The actual robbery is very good but the buildup goes on a bit too long. I liked the location photography and the music was fine. "The Doberman Gang" is definitely the kind of movie that they don't make anymore.
Trained to commit the most incredible crime ever conceived!
JasonKleeberg20 January 2015
"The doggonist gang that the world had ever seen..."
At dinner one night, my father-in-law saw a Doberman on TV and asked if I had ever seen the movie where Dobermans rob a bank. I hadn't...but knew from that description alone that I had to track it down.
It was released in 1972, directed by Byron Chudnow. Chudnow only directed four movies in his career...The Doberman Gang, The Daring Dobermans, The Amazing Dobermans, and Alex and the Doberman Gang. Pretty safe to say that this guy had an unhealthy obsession with these dogs. It stars TV journeyman actor Byron Mabe, Hal Reed and Julie Parrish, none of whom you've ever heard of.
The story revolves around an ex-con named Eddie and his desire to rob a bank without the element of 'human error' once a bank job goes wrong. To do this, he and a dog trainer snag a pack of Dobermans and train them to rob a bank using whistles. Sound crazy? It is. It really is.
The premise of this movie sounds a bit better than it actually is. What we actually get is about 10 minutes of set up, an hour of dog training, and a ten minute heist. A bunch of character decisions make no sense, none more than the fact that Eddie is about the least careful criminal one could be. He pulls a waitress that he's known for one night into the job because...well...sex, and when the dog trainer threatens to bolt, he basically lets him. He flat out deserves to get caught. At least the 70's music is 'groovy', featuring a song about the dogs that just classic(ly bad).
I cannot recommend seeing The Doberman Gang. The only thing redeeming about this thing is the music and watching a bulldog try to run the doberman course.
My final grade: D
At dinner one night, my father-in-law saw a Doberman on TV and asked if I had ever seen the movie where Dobermans rob a bank. I hadn't...but knew from that description alone that I had to track it down.
It was released in 1972, directed by Byron Chudnow. Chudnow only directed four movies in his career...The Doberman Gang, The Daring Dobermans, The Amazing Dobermans, and Alex and the Doberman Gang. Pretty safe to say that this guy had an unhealthy obsession with these dogs. It stars TV journeyman actor Byron Mabe, Hal Reed and Julie Parrish, none of whom you've ever heard of.
The story revolves around an ex-con named Eddie and his desire to rob a bank without the element of 'human error' once a bank job goes wrong. To do this, he and a dog trainer snag a pack of Dobermans and train them to rob a bank using whistles. Sound crazy? It is. It really is.
The premise of this movie sounds a bit better than it actually is. What we actually get is about 10 minutes of set up, an hour of dog training, and a ten minute heist. A bunch of character decisions make no sense, none more than the fact that Eddie is about the least careful criminal one could be. He pulls a waitress that he's known for one night into the job because...well...sex, and when the dog trainer threatens to bolt, he basically lets him. He flat out deserves to get caught. At least the 70's music is 'groovy', featuring a song about the dogs that just classic(ly bad).
I cannot recommend seeing The Doberman Gang. The only thing redeeming about this thing is the music and watching a bulldog try to run the doberman course.
My final grade: D
Underrated Original caper movie, baffled the audience in perfect bank robbery!!
elo-equipamentos15 October 2023
Aside it was extremely beaten up by the critics nobody can deny its uniqueness even a preposterous story, a meticulous thief Eddie (Byron Made) and his two cohorts have fail in a bank robbery, aftermaths he figures out that using Dobermans to make a robbery he will be safe and contracted a trainer from US's Army about to release and together his girlfriend June (Julie Parrish) and his gang he settle a bold plan to make a perfect heist, the trainer soon perceives that something is wrong, due at first time Eddie offer to him a profitable partnership to sell trained dogs, even he wasn't able to practice Dobermans, actually he is a German Shepard trainee.
Soon he discovers the real intention of the bleak Eddie, he refuses at first time, however is convinced by many factors, the dogs will be killed if he doesn't carry on, also the high money involved was a paramount to go ahead, after exhaustive weeks of training using a whistle for each dog aiming for control the ferocious Dobermans, thus he'll manage the dogs at robbery remotely, out of the blue at moment of the action he slipping away, June replaces him managing the dogs through the multi-colors whistles, everything went as planned, however June has another destiny for the money.
I'd remember at its time a huge audience in this unusual heist movie, indeed a clever idea from the producers, the marvelous Dobermans were really the stars of the picture, also the greedy and sexy Julie Parrish, without forget the convincing performance by Byron Made which never seen aftermaths in other production, the Italian actor JoJo D'Amore is often funny character, a pleasant movie to re-watch it again after many years, no DVD come out officially in Brazil yet.
Thanks for reading
Resume:
First watch: 1989 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.
Soon he discovers the real intention of the bleak Eddie, he refuses at first time, however is convinced by many factors, the dogs will be killed if he doesn't carry on, also the high money involved was a paramount to go ahead, after exhaustive weeks of training using a whistle for each dog aiming for control the ferocious Dobermans, thus he'll manage the dogs at robbery remotely, out of the blue at moment of the action he slipping away, June replaces him managing the dogs through the multi-colors whistles, everything went as planned, however June has another destiny for the money.
I'd remember at its time a huge audience in this unusual heist movie, indeed a clever idea from the producers, the marvelous Dobermans were really the stars of the picture, also the greedy and sexy Julie Parrish, without forget the convincing performance by Byron Made which never seen aftermaths in other production, the Italian actor JoJo D'Amore is often funny character, a pleasant movie to re-watch it again after many years, no DVD come out officially in Brazil yet.
Thanks for reading
Resume:
First watch: 1989 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 7.
This is a – WOOF – hold up! Put your paws in the air and give me all your biscuits!
Coventry11 June 2016
Certain seventies movies have such a bonkers plot concept that you have to watch them, if only just to see with your own eyes how they elaborated the idea! Take "The Doberman Gang", for instance. Following a screwed-up bank heist (they put the loot in the trunk of the wrong getaway car) and a romantic night with waitress June, the embittered ex-con Eddie comes up with the brilliant plan to train six fierce Doberman dogs to commit a bank robbery, so that he and his buddies can observe from a distance without running any risks. Brilliant, isn't it? So does this mean that "The Doberman Gang" is a fantastic 70s crime-caper gem with plenty of virulent action sequences and spectacular animal stunts? Unfortunately not
It's more of a slow-paced comedy/buddy movie with enormous amounts of dog training footage and a LOT of country music montages. Eddie enlists the help of former police dog trainer Barney, even though he only worked with German Shepard dogs before and initially doesn't know what he's training the Dobermans for, and puts together a forceful dog pack with the glorious sounding names of legendary bank robbers like Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Ma Barker, Baby Face Nelson and – of course – Bonnie and Clyde. Unless you have a strong affection for this particular type of dogs (like my mother-in-law, who for some reason collects everything that has to do with Dobermans) there's very little to recommend here. The first 70 or so minutes are quite dull and substantially void, unless you like country music, and the only things to enjoy are the charismatic dogs and the reasonably sympathetic acting performances of the second-rate bank robbers Sammy Bow and JoJo D'Amore. The actual bank heist is obviously a lot more entertaining and the tricks of the dogs and their trek back home are quite exhilarating to watch. There isn't any violence or verbal/physical brutality, so it's perfectly suitable for younger audiences.
The best movie EVER about dogs robbing a bank.
hausrathman20 February 2003
A group of clever criminals train a six Doberman Pinchers to rob a bank for them in this low-budget crime caper film. Director Byron Chudnow doesn't display a great deal of finesse, nor does the cast of unknowns for that matter, but he manages to get the job done. One of the better B-caper films of its time. This is a guilty pleasure I return to time and time again.
Dogs will do anything and this movie proves it.
mhorg20184 July 2018
Dogs are the greatest, most noble animals in the world. They love humanity and will do anything, as this movie proves, for us. This is a really fun movie where a gang gets the idea to use Doberman's a quite intelligent breed, to rob a bank. The movie works well and the heist is well filmed. A really enjoyable, if silly, movie.
Great B-Caper Film
Sargebri10 October 2003
I remember seeing this when I was just six years old and I really enjoyed it. This was probably one of the most outlandish films I ever saw, but it is still a great film to watch. Even though the budget was low and the acting is barely professional, it still was a great treat. Also, even though there are a few violent moments, especially when one of the dogs attacks the bank guard, it is still something that I wouldn't mind showing younger kids.
Honestly, it's crap
johnny_dazzle20 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
You may have seen the hilarious trailer for this movie online. If not, simply search "doberman gang" on YouTube. I advise you to do this, then skip the movie entirely.
I am not exaggerating when I say that the trailer has everything worth watching. "The Doberman Gang" is not a "so bad it's good" film. Worse than that-- the movie is painfully dull. Nothing happens, and I mean NOTHING for an entire hour. It is only in the last twenty minutes do we see the dogs in action. And again, it's everything you see in the trailer, only edited horribly to stretch out the scene. Think about it---dogs robbing a friggin' bank, and they somehow managed to make it boring!
See instead "Daring Dobermans" the superior sequel. It picks up immediately where this film leaves off (the dogs succeed in robbing the bank, but then run away to the woods). A new band of criminals capture the dogs and train them for another heist. "Daring Dobermans" is truly enjoyable with a better story, more interesting characters including a cute kid, more doberman action and this time, the heist is exciting and fun.
I am not exaggerating when I say that the trailer has everything worth watching. "The Doberman Gang" is not a "so bad it's good" film. Worse than that-- the movie is painfully dull. Nothing happens, and I mean NOTHING for an entire hour. It is only in the last twenty minutes do we see the dogs in action. And again, it's everything you see in the trailer, only edited horribly to stretch out the scene. Think about it---dogs robbing a friggin' bank, and they somehow managed to make it boring!
See instead "Daring Dobermans" the superior sequel. It picks up immediately where this film leaves off (the dogs succeed in robbing the bank, but then run away to the woods). A new band of criminals capture the dogs and train them for another heist. "Daring Dobermans" is truly enjoyable with a better story, more interesting characters including a cute kid, more doberman action and this time, the heist is exciting and fun.
This one is rough (ruff).
bkuhlmann214 January 2020
Great B-movie caper, with the dogs as the big stars...
videoplusdvd6 July 2006
Considering that the main cast are primarily television bit actors, they gel together very well. Even director Byron Chudnow's primary work was producing and editing in television, which probably goes a long way to explain why the film is so economically paced. Julie Parrish was most recognized for appearing opposite Elvis Presley in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style", and briefly in Star Trek's "The Menagerie" (part 1).
The film is notable especially for being composer Alan Sylvestri's first motion picture score (alternating between dramatic and humorous), with absolutely no prior composing experience, and a two week deadline. He would eventually be linked regularly to director Robert Zemeckis, enjoying a working relationship similar to Steven Spielberg and John Williams.
Extremely entertaining and generally a well paced film, rated GP on original theatrical prints (re-classified PG) for a couple of bloody sequences.
The film is notable especially for being composer Alan Sylvestri's first motion picture score (alternating between dramatic and humorous), with absolutely no prior composing experience, and a two week deadline. He would eventually be linked regularly to director Robert Zemeckis, enjoying a working relationship similar to Steven Spielberg and John Williams.
Extremely entertaining and generally a well paced film, rated GP on original theatrical prints (re-classified PG) for a couple of bloody sequences.
Rooting for them to fail. That's not a motive to watch a movie.
mark.waltz18 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Training dobermans that rob banks. Now that's an entertaining plot line for a movie, especially featuring a cast of people you've never even heard of and a song sung by Mercedes Hall bed supposed to bring romance into it as if it was Helen Reddy singing. This movie is just repulsive in every way, an unnecessarily violent film that somehow was successful enough to prompt two sequels, one of which co-starred Fred Astaire. The only actor in this film worth mentioning is Julie Parrish, only because I know her from the daytime soap opera "Capitol".
She's initially an unwilling participant in this game, only really joining in when one of the gang members slaps her at dinner because he insulted her and she responded by throwing food in his days. It's a very unpleasant film in pretty much every aspect, and probably the worst animal film I've ever seen, especially about one of the least friendly breeds of a species known as man's best friend. It takes forever for the the film to get off the ground, showing how they trained these animals (apparently purchase through the Air Force!) and then showing the dobermans baring their fangs at bank clerks and customers. This is one film from the 70's that has no sense of nostalgia, just a great disgust for the distasteful plot.
She's initially an unwilling participant in this game, only really joining in when one of the gang members slaps her at dinner because he insulted her and she responded by throwing food in his days. It's a very unpleasant film in pretty much every aspect, and probably the worst animal film I've ever seen, especially about one of the least friendly breeds of a species known as man's best friend. It takes forever for the the film to get off the ground, showing how they trained these animals (apparently purchase through the Air Force!) and then showing the dobermans baring their fangs at bank clerks and customers. This is one film from the 70's that has no sense of nostalgia, just a great disgust for the distasteful plot.
A flight of fancy which is propelled by its endlessly inventive energy.
Fella_shibby1 August 2019
I first saw this in the late 80s on a vhs.
Revisited it recently on a pirated dvd, it is vhs ripped but a clean copy.
It is available on YouTube but I bought the dvd for my collection.
It is about a gang of robbers who after a failed robbery, train dogs with the help of a professional trainer to rob a bank.
This movie is the first n d best film about dogs robbing a bank. Of course it is a far-fetched one but with lots of humor n solid tension. The best part is the training n minor details like putting a spiked collar to prevent strangulation.
It is about a gang of robbers who after a failed robbery, train dogs with the help of a professional trainer to rob a bank.
This movie is the first n d best film about dogs robbing a bank. Of course it is a far-fetched one but with lots of humor n solid tension. The best part is the training n minor details like putting a spiked collar to prevent strangulation.
A really cool and enjoyable oddball 70's crime caper flick
Woodyanders28 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This really choice and pleasingly idiosyncratic early 70's low-budget canine crime caper winner delivers the quirky low-key nickel'n'dime junk movie goods with mucho gusto and a welcome dearth of pretense. Irascible criminal mastermind Eddie, fed up with the gross constant ineptitude of his hopelessly fallible human cohorts, kidnaps and trains a sextet of non-error prone super-sharp Doberman pinchers to pull off an intricate bank heist. This funky little number hits all the necessary bases: we've got a speedy steady pace, competent, assured direction by Bryon Ross Chudnow, nifty gritty lowlife characters, solid pro acting, a crankin' soulful heavy on the brass score by Bradford Craig and Alan Silvestri, exquisite crystal clear cinematography by Robert Caramico, a terrifically tense heist set piece, cheesy montages set to marvelously mawkish light FM tunes, and even a slight mild sprinkling of good old fashioned gratuitous sex and violence. Bonus points are in order for both the fabulously corny country-and-western theme song ("They were the dog gonest gang that man did ever see") and the fact that each dobie is named after a notorious 30's Depression era criminal (Ma Parker, Dillinger, Bonnie, Clyde, etc.). In short, this fun flick overall rates as the totally authentic gnarly article.
Good 70's time passer
edwardiancinema16 September 2018
Yes the plot is quite preposterous, and the actors only credits to their acclaim are some TV show credits, this is still a fun fast paced film. The cinematography of the rural area is not bad, it obviously took an individual with some kind of film making experience to make this movie.
Good Fun
cgrimmette10 April 2012
1972 is a long time ago and judged by todays standards many might dismiss this as a poor B movie flick. On the other hand judged by todays TV standards this is a great laugh and if it was produced now it would be a success. We love dogs and hate banks. How often have you sat on the porch looking at the stars and wondered how the hell can I get back at the bank who just charged £30 for going slightly overdrawn. Mans best friend comes to the rescue. The producer of this film deserves full credit for his foresight and a remake is long overdue perhaps with Brad Pitt as the staring role and Courtney love as the lead Doberman. Okay with died hair. I jest, just love a so called 'B' movie form 1972 thats entertaining.
I don't always rob banks
calebcalebwhitney22 December 2022
But when I do, it's dobermans all the way, baby! Ten stars for the beautiful pups who are the stars here.
The Doberman Gang is basically a dog show with a side story about bank robbery. We've all seen loads of movies about bank robbers, but Jesse James, the Daltons and John Dillinger all pale in comparison to the handsome lads pulling off capers in this film. In fact, if Jesse James had teamed up with a doberman gang, he'd still be alive today and would still be working as a successful bank robber.
This film was an inspiration for my brothers and I when we were young fellas trying to decide what to do when we grew up. Once we saw The Doberman Gang we were all in on starting our own doberman gang. We were certain we'd have no problem finding a bunch of dobermans to join us in a career full of adventure and larceny. We argued some... whether we could justify putting the dogs in harm's way (we decided the dobermans would feel it's worth the risk, given the adventure aspect of the job); we discussed whether we'd stick to just banks or whether we'd branch out to drug dens. Traveler Caravans and mob-controlled card games (we decided to diversify - too risky to put all our eggs in one basket) Looking back, of course it was silly, but in our defence, we were in our early 30s and still full of wide-eyed wonder and drunk with robbery-lust.
In the end, all 8 of us ended up doing some bank work, though sadly sans dobermans. We've paid our debts now and we're free to travel without reporting in to a PO, but we still hold dear the dreams of our youth.
One caveat though: You will be overwhelmed by cuteness. Having seen this movie more than 20 times I still want to hug the stuffings out of these doggies and kiss them on the head. I can't imagine how the actors were able to stay in character.
The Doberman Gang is basically a dog show with a side story about bank robbery. We've all seen loads of movies about bank robbers, but Jesse James, the Daltons and John Dillinger all pale in comparison to the handsome lads pulling off capers in this film. In fact, if Jesse James had teamed up with a doberman gang, he'd still be alive today and would still be working as a successful bank robber.
This film was an inspiration for my brothers and I when we were young fellas trying to decide what to do when we grew up. Once we saw The Doberman Gang we were all in on starting our own doberman gang. We were certain we'd have no problem finding a bunch of dobermans to join us in a career full of adventure and larceny. We argued some... whether we could justify putting the dogs in harm's way (we decided the dobermans would feel it's worth the risk, given the adventure aspect of the job); we discussed whether we'd stick to just banks or whether we'd branch out to drug dens. Traveler Caravans and mob-controlled card games (we decided to diversify - too risky to put all our eggs in one basket) Looking back, of course it was silly, but in our defence, we were in our early 30s and still full of wide-eyed wonder and drunk with robbery-lust.
In the end, all 8 of us ended up doing some bank work, though sadly sans dobermans. We've paid our debts now and we're free to travel without reporting in to a PO, but we still hold dear the dreams of our youth.
One caveat though: You will be overwhelmed by cuteness. Having seen this movie more than 20 times I still want to hug the stuffings out of these doggies and kiss them on the head. I can't imagine how the actors were able to stay in character.
A very surprising heist movie
searchanddestroy-119 April 2022
A few weeks ago, I commented BLIND RAGE, speaking of a bank heist pulled by a gang of blind men ; here, it is question of Dobermans that are trained to commit the caper. It is less dark, violent and gloomy than BLIND RAGE, but not less efficient. Yes, it is rather light hearted and pleasant to watch anyway, as to counterpoint the sadness of this part of the early seventies. The preparation phase is riveting, as much as the execution one. And the nicknames given to the dogs, with crime celebrities names: Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Ma Barker, Bonnie, Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, is very amusing. Anyone among the audiences wish the gang to succeed, of course. An amusing ending.
Mesmerizing Heist Movie
sos_poseidon25 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This 1972 gem uses six dobermans to rob a bank in a very inventive way. Dillinger, Bonnie, Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, Ma Barker, and Pretty Boy Floyd are the dobermans trained by constructing an exact replica of the inside of the targeted bank and using customized dog whistles to control their every move. An appealing cast, an excellent musical score, and a twist ending make this worth watching.
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