Skippy a.k.a. Asta

I thought I would write a few quick notes on one of the most talented actors of the 1930s, Asta the dog (b.1931 or 1932 - d. ?).  I just happen to have After the Thin Man (1936) on TCM as background noise.  That may have made me think of Asta.

Asta was originally named Skippy, but after The Thin Man (1934) he was forever known as Asta.  IMDb lists eight titles for Asta, but that has to be incorrect.  The final title is "The Thin Man" television series in 1958, and Asta would have been 26 years old.  Not possible for a wire haired terrier.

A look at Wikipedia shows a more logical glance at his professional career.  Asta probably appeared as an extra in several films before hitting it big.  They also note that one of Asta's trainers was Rudd Weatherwax (1907 - 1985), who made Lassie (or Pal) famous.

In 1937 we see Asta starring in The Awful Truth, with supporting players Irene Dunne (1898 - 1990) and Cary Grant (1904 - 1986).  Asta is the center of a custody dispute in this rom-com.

Asta also appears in Bringing Up Baby (1938) working with Grant again, and also with Katherine Hepburn (1907 - 2003).  Then, the same year, he appears in Topper Takes a Trip, with Constance Bennett (1904 - 1965).  That was a curious entry in the Topper series, as it was absent the George Kirby character.  I must look into that!

Asta's character appears in six Thin Man movies, but Skippy is only in the first two.  There is an interesting quote from an article in The American Magazine in 1938 -

"Skippy, a smart little wire-haired terrier, is one of the leading stars in pictures. He leads a glamorous life—a dog's life de luxe. He is rated as one of the smartest dogs in the world, and when contracts are signed for his appearance in a picture he gets $200 a week for putting his paw-print on the dotted line. His trainer gets a mere $60."

Asta's antics in The Thin Man and After the Thin Man have endeared him to dog lovers for decades.  Another line from the magazine article said, "Treat a dog kindly and he'll do anything in the world for you."  Our wonderful dog Sadie has shown us that.  My wife and I rescued her and she has turned into a loving pet.

After the Thin Man also has Mrs. Asta, and is probably the best of the series.  Who needs a murder story when you have talented dogs!

The Search for Bit Players

I had some doubts when I started this project that I may run out of subjects after a time.  Well, this is my 65th post and I haven't missed a single day except Independence Day.  That was my choice, not a lack of someone to write about.

I have now realized that my choice of subjects is partly determined by the definition of Bit Player, and since this is my blog and I can do whatever I want with it, that definition will be considered infinitely flexible.

One needs only to look at almost ANY film made in the 1930's through the 1950's to find a wealth of bit actors and actresses.  Many later stars were cutting their teeth in bit parts at that time, so they can be considered bit players.  Case in point, After the Thin Man from 1936.  This is my favorite from the Thin Man series with William Powell and Myrna Loy.

James Stewart had a supporting role in this film, his eleventh movie role.  You may consider it a bit part, since he hadn't had any starring roles yet, and it was two years before You Can't Take it with You, and three years before Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, arguably his first starring role.

How about some lesser known actors and actresses?  Penny Singleton and Paul Fix were in this movie.  George Zucco played Dr. Kammer, but he was in 96 other movies and played Prof. Moriarity in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from 1939, which introduced the team of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.  Also one of my favorites.

The really fun part of this movie, apart from the fact that Nick Charles is plastered through the entire film, is the cast of Nick's friends.  Every two-bit gangster character actor was seen.  Names like Fingers and Willie the Weeper were played by people who seemed destined to play only in 1930's detective movies.

Henry the butler was played by Tom Ricketts (1853 to 1939).  Can you image being alive during the Civil War?  Ricketts made 203 movies from 1908 until the year he died, when he appeared in Son of Frankenstein.  He worked with everybody!  In the 1930's he was in Top Hat, The Invisible Man and two others with Claude Rains, plus Show Boat, Gold Diggers of 1937, A Star is Born, and The Prince and the Pauper.

Sorry I spent so much time on poor Tom Ricketts, but I get carried away.  I am out of time for today, so let's see what tomorrow brings.