Film reviews
'wonder-dog' Story To Be Made Into Film
17th September 2009
WONDER DOG STORY TO BE MADE INTO FILM
A disabled former Royal Navy officer spoke today of his delight at hearing that the story of his helper dog is to be turned into a movie.
Allen Parton, of Clanfield, Hampshire, was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a head injury during the first Gulf War.
The Canine Partners charity trained Endal, a labrador who died in March, to assist Mr Parton with everyday chores from picking items off a supermarket shelf to using a cashpoint and more recently chip and pin machines.
Mr Parton considers Endal as having helped save his marriage to wife Sandra.
He said that Endal helped transform his life, enabling them to overcome a troubled patch and renew their wedding vows.
Now movie producer Simon Brooks has bought the rights to the couple's book "Endal: How One Extraordinary Dog Brought a Family Back from the Brink".
Juliette Towhidi, who wrote Calendar Girls, is writing the script and filming is hoped to start late next summer.
Mr Brooks, who has previously produced films such as White Noise starring Michael Keaton, said: "It's an incredibly inspirational story.
"I caught the last six or seven minutes of a documentary about Endal and was enthralled by it and thought that would be a great movie."
He added that once a script was ready, he would approach stars such as Kate Winslet and Rachel Weisz to play Mrs Parton and Colin Firth or Michael Sheen to play Mr Parton.
Mr Parton said:
"I am absolutely delighted. When I came back from the Gulf War, I had lost my memory, I couldn't read, write or walk and our marriage went through hard times but my wife didn't give up on me.
"Then Endal bounded into our lives and the rest is history. The movie is going to be very powerful."
He added jokingly: "For realism, Brad Pitt should play me but we're just happy to share our story."
Endal became the most decorated peace time dog after he helped save Mr Parton's life when he was involved in a car crash in 2001.
The canine was awarded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) gold award, its equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for putting Mr Parton in the recovery position, covering him in a blanket, bringing him his mobile phone and barking for help.
And yesterday Mr Parton received an honorary PDSA Pet Tribute Tag in remembrance of Endal which will remain on permanent display in the PDSA 'Paws Forever' pet tribute garden in Ilford, Essex.
Endal, who had reached 13 years of age, had to be retired earlier this year after developing arthritis and had to be put down in March after suffering two fits.
Mr Parton:
"He truly was a wonder-dog and I regard him as saving my life."
Mr Parton is now assisted by a new Labrador puppy called Endal Junior or "EJ".
WELL DONE ALLEN & ENDAL FROM ALL AT PETSMILES