What a title! That's what drew me to The Gay Dog, to see what it was all about. I pictured a dog wearing lipstick, with painted toenails and fluttering false eye lashes.

In reality it was about a greyhound named Raving Beauty, and the love and devotion his owner heaped on him. And the dog's impact on the family of its owner, and in fact the entire village where they all live.

I've seen it described as a comedy, but I saw it more as a drama. Nothing funny about it, definitely peculiar, and odd, but not hilarious nor played for laughs.

The entire British cast was all very effective, I didn't recognize a single name, or face.

And that is the major difference between star driven Hollywood movies, and story based English pictures.

All the characters were just ordinary mid century working class Brits. Not the slightest hint of glamour, or elegance. Just plain folks.

An exceptional dog, but not a talking canine, nor bionic pup, just a dog happily sleeping on a bed of hay in its handmade kennel.