Word on the London Street is that “Howard the Duck” and “The Plague Dogs” are due for a UK DVD release:
http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/howard-the-duck.html
http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releases/the-plague-dogs.html
It just so happens I was in London during its original release there in December 86. The movie's posters in the tube stations showed him from the back with only the tip of his bill visible, with the slogan "Howard, A new kind of hero." I guess they didn't want people figuring out they’d paid to see a duck movie until it was too late.
Someone once said that if you had invested your money in a film about a talking animal with one of the biggest names in Hollywood as executive producer, you would've either made a bundle off Roger Rabbit (Spielberg) or lost one with Howard (George Lucas). Interesting that both guys felt like making talking animal movies; perhaps they’re secretly furries…
'Plague Dogs,’ based on Richard Adams’ follow-up to his mega-successful Watership Down, never got a US theatrical release and only played in NY for a week at a non-commercial theater. Parents be warned: PD is definitely NOT your standard friendly cartoon dog film; its only morphic touch was the animals’ ability to converse with each other. Then there was its downer ending, defiantly tossing aside Adams' seemingly tacked-on upbeat conclusion. PD is way overdue for a second look, as is Howard’s unbelievably half-assed duck suit - I pity the midget they stuck in it. I wonder if George is considering a Howard Special Edition with a CGI duck replacing that suit...
Joe Strike has written about animation for numerous publications. He is the author of Furry Nation: The True Story of America's Most Misunderstood Subculture.
