Scruffy (Part 1/6)

Based on the book "The Tuesday Dog" by Jack Stoneley (retitled "Scruffy" in the US), itself loosely based on a true story, this was a three-part 1980 ABC Weekend Special produced by Ruby-Spears Enterprises. The story follows a stray puppy who is forced to deal with surviving on her own after she and her mother are abandoned. It was directed by Charles A. Nichols and written by Sheldon Stark.

The special is fairly faithful to the book, though there are several changes. Firstly, the dogs now talk, but they retain most of their animal qualities. Scruffy herself now resembles Lady the Cocker Spaniel from "Lady and the Tramp" rather than the scruffy black-and-white mongrel that lived over 35 years ago. Several characters are added that were not in the book. Most of the content in the book is toned down except for one scene, which will come later. One thing's for sure, though, that for a TV special, it doesn't pull its punches.

For those lucky enough to have owned the VHS or seen it on ABC back in 1980, now is the time to relive your childhood. If not, I hope you enjoy this special nonetheless.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• 1980s
• 80s
• cartoon
• sad
• tear
• jerker
• tv
• television

[scanline]

this probably had some of the best animation quality ever seen on a weekend special

[ScruffySpecial]

@scanline I beg to differ. The stop-motion animated specials by John Clark Matthews (The Mouse and the Motorcycle) are quite lovingly animated, and anything by Rick Reinart (The Bollo Caper, The OG Readmore specials) trumps Ruby-Spears' animation any day.

[Aquamarinequeen10]

I'm so sorry! I accidentially hit the wrong button on my iphone while trying to post a comment and I think it flagged this as innapropriate... -_- but anyways, I wanted to post that I love the book Scruffy, so thank you for posting this...

[ScruffySpecial]

@Aquamarinequeen10 Nothing's been reported to me, so consider this video safe!

[ScruffySpecial]

@AtreidesHeir: Hehe, as for your last point, I remember in the book Duchess had more than one puppy in her litter, but Scruffy is the only survivor.

[Thecolouraqua]

I saw the comments before I even had a chance to look at the video. Then I watched part one... It wasn't like they were leaving the dog to die. They had someone coming over to pick the dog up and take her home with them. Then when the new owner came the dog wasn't there. I don't get how some people freak out over that. Even over a damn cartoon. It's sad but it wasn't like it was on purpose.

[emipony6]

...I've been looking for this movie for AGES and it's been HERE this whole time? OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU.

[pumba16121983]

I koved this movie so much as a child!!! Whenever I was sick and home from school I watched the video. Over the years the video got lost so I´m verry happy that this movie was posted on youtube

[ButterflyTearsOfDark]

I remember watching this VHS as a little kid...

[tabbystorm]

Isn't this based off the book scruffy? I remember reading that book when I was 8

[bigg34691]

It's amazing that this cartoon came out 32 years ago now things have changed with no-kill shelters,"Animal Cops" to help rescue the abandoned dogs and how this so ironically close to Disney's Lady And The Tramp (Excluding the two "sinister" Siamese cats Si & Am).

[animeleader45]

7 days!? shit, thats way over the line, don't you think? Thank god we have no kill shelters here in NJ. we also transfer pets from kill shelters to up here where they are safe. my dog Chayce was saved from a kill shelter right after he was born. Still with me turning 3 this year. I can't see my life without him now. =)

[KaoGreenStar]

nwn Ha ha, actually, even though I'm only 17, I used to own the actual movie when I was around 8 years. Mom and dad had a VCR and some how or another dad found the video by chance. Since it had a dog on it (and he knew that I LOVED animals) he found it cute so he gave it to me as a present. I loved that movie and I watched it countless times. Q_Q But then I lost it when we moved a year later. nwn Thank you for posting this. I've been looking all over and yes, it does make you relive childhood.

[Hotshotter3000]

I agree, the start was kinda weird. But I'm guessing they couldn't think of any other way to get the plot moving.