Dorothy
‘Dodie’ Smith (b.1895) had quite a career, writing novels, plays, screenplays,
and at least four volumes of autobiography. I knew her mainly for The
Hundred and One Dalmatians (1956) of course, which was adapted into a
Disney movie in 1961 (animated) and 1996 (live action). What I did not know was
that she had written a sequel to Dalmatians in 1967, called The
Starlight Barking. Going back to research this author and her work for
Basic Reading, I found out about this crazy sequel that I would never have
guessed from reading the original work. Here is the synopsis from Wikipedia,
which must be read to be appreciated:
“The
Dearly family and most of the Dalmatians of
the first book still live in Cruella
de Vil's old manor house in Suffolk, as do
many of the other rescued Dalmatians and a married couple of White Persian
cats. Mr. Dearly has allowed some dogs to go to new masters, including
giving Cadpig to the Prime Minister.
“One
morning, the dogs find all other living things besides dogs cannot be wakened.
No dog is hungry, thirsty, or weak. Doors, gates, and machines operate on
command, and the dogs are able to communicate via "thought
waves" to others many miles away. Cadpig, now acting Prime
Minister in the humans' absence, orders her parents to come help her in London, where
hundreds of dogs are arriving awaiting her advice.
“The
dogs discover they can "swoosh", or hover at tremendous speed over
the ground. Pongo and Missis select a squad of fifty Dalmatians, including
their adult sons Patch, Lucky, and Roly Poly. They "swoosh" to London
and are escorted by Police Dogs to 10
Downing Street. Cadpig and her Cabinet (the human Cabinet's dogs) hold a
meeting with Pongo and Missis to decide what to do next. Roly Poly makes a
friend of George, the Foreign Secretary's Boxer,
and the two set off to adventure together.
“Two Fox Terriers hear the General
(the Old English Sheepdog) barking; he reveals he
will soon be arriving with his owner's little son Tommy, the farm tabby Mrs.
Willow, and the female White Persian Cat. These three are also awake, thanks to
being named "honorary dogs" after the events of the first book. Upon
arrival in London, the White Persian Cat suggests Cruella, now back in London,
must be behind the mysterious sleeping. She leads a group of dogs to Cruella's
house to kill her. However, Cruella and her husband are just as fast asleep as
anyone else, and the animals see she is now obsessed with metallic plastics
instead of fur coats. They spare her life and return to Downing
Street, where the television comes on and a strange Voice orders them to make
sure all dogs are in open, starlit spaces by midnight. The Dalmatians
accomplish this via Twilight Barking and thought waves.
“In Trafalgar
Square, Tommy, the cats, the Dalmatians, and the General meet with
thousands of other dogs to wait. At Midnight, after a strange euphoric moment
followed by a moment of terror, Sirius, the Lord of the Dog Star, appears
on Nelson's Column. He explains to all the dogs that
he is lonely and is offering them the chance to avoid the pain of
possible nuclear war in the future. However, they must come
with him of their own accord. He assures them the world, when it wakes, will
not remember dogs ever existed, and that all dogs will be free and know true
bliss in the stars.
“Pongo
is chosen to make the final decision. He consults with the Cabinet, Missis, and
the General. Three stray dogs approach, and tell Pongo that no "lost"
dog wants to give up their last chance of finding special humans of their own
by leaving Earth. This convinces Pongo and the others to choose their masters
over Sirius. While Sirius commends their loyalty to humankind, he is sad that
he will have to return to space alone. The dogs promise they will look out for
him on nights when the Dog Star is in the sky. Sirius grants them the ability
to "swoosh" to their own homes before daybreak, at which time
everything will return to normal.
“Roly
Poly returns from his adventure in Paris with
George. He reveals Sirius appeared there as well, and Missis surmises he
appeared everywhere at once, as a star is not bound by earthly time. All owned
dogs return home, while the "lost" dogs take the opportunity to get
in to Battersea Dogs Home, where they will be fed and
cared for while awaiting new owners. Pongo talks to Sirius one last time before
the dawn and says someday dogs may be ready to leave Earth with him, but for
now they will be content to be owned by loving humans, which, for him, is
"bliss" enough.”
I am
flabbergasted. Dodie Smith only died in 1990, so I suppose I might have had a
chance to write her a fan letter. If I had known about The Starlight Barking,
I think I might have asked her a few questions as well (I may have to buy a copy yet before I believe it). Her 1948
semi-autobiographical novel I Capture the Castle was made into a 2003
film. She owned quite a few Dalmatians herself, as one may have guessed.
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