Watch The Doberman Gang

The Doberman Gang is a 1972 action-comedy film directed by Byron Chudnow and starring a cast of relatively unknown actors including Byron Mabe, Hal Reed, and Julie Parrish. The film follows the story of a gang of six Doberman Pinschers who are trained to rob a bank. The movie begins with Frank (Byron Mabe), a small-time crook, getting released from prison. He is immediately approached by an old acquaintance, who proposes a scheme to rob a bank with trained dogs. Frank is initially skeptical, but after witnessing the dogs' excellent training, he decides to go along with the plan.

The dogs, led by a Doberman named Bonnie, are a talented bunch. They are trained to perform various tasks, including climbing ladders, opening locks, and carrying bags of money. The rest of the gang is made up of Lou (Hal Reed), a mechanic who builds the various contraptions used in the heist, and a group of loyal henchmen.

The team sets to work on their plan, which involves stealing a bulldozer to dig a tunnel into the bank vault. They then use the dogs to infiltrate the bank and grab the money. However, things don't go as smoothly as planned, and the gang must contend with unforeseen obstacles, including a meddling security guard and a neglected pet dog who manages to foil their plan.

The Doberman Gang is an entertaining and lighthearted movie that plays up the funny and charming side of canine behavior. The film is a masterclass in how to create relatable and enjoyable characters out of animals, and Bonnie and her pack of dogs are infinitely lovable and entertaining.

The film also has an endearing quality in the way that it portrays criminals as sympathetic characters with a redeeming sense of honor. Frank and his gang may be criminals, but their crimes are victimless, and they are only in it for the money. The film makes it clear that they are not violent, and they only do what they must to survive. In this way, the film is more of a love letter to the underdog than anything else.

The Doberman Gang is not a perfect movie, though. There are moments in the film where the pacing drags, and the heist itself is anticlimactic. But overall, the film has an irresistible charm that makes it an enjoyable and entertaining watch.

The Doberman Gang is also notable for its influence on future films. The movie's concept of training dogs for heists would later be adapted by the filmmakers of the highly successful franchise Ocean's Eleven. Additionally, the film served as inspiration for the similarly themed films The Retrievers and the Disney classic Air Bud.

In retrospect, The Doberman Gang is not a film that would challenge or provoke its audience. It has no great artistic ambitions, and it is content to be a fun and lighthearted adventure. But it succeeds at what it sets out to do, which is to entertain its audience with an engaging and endearing story about animals and criminals. If you're looking for a film that will make you smile and root for the underdog, The Doberman Gang is an excellent choice.

The Doberman Gang is a 1972 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.