“Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero”

Strikingly traditional and patriotic, “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” is truly a film for all ages. It is at first surprising that it was a box-office flop when it premiered in 2018, in the 100th anniversary year of the end of the Great War it depicts, despite generally positive reviews by critics and moviegoers. But perhaps it is simply the sad case that a significant segment of America today does not much value the moral goods that form the heart and soul of the film: heroism, patriotism, loyalty, friendship.

Based on the true story of the most decorated dog in American history, the animated “Sgt. Stubby” tells the tale of a stray Boston Terrier that is adopted by an American soldier, Robert Conroy (Logan Lerman), at the Connecticut training camp of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, as the doughboys prepare to be sent “over there.” In the film, Stubby follows his master as a stowaway on a transport ship headed for Europe (in actuality, Conroy smuggled the dog aboard). On the battlefield in France, Stubby proves himself to be unflinchingly brave, warning of poison gas attacks, locating and digging American and French soldiers out of dirt mounds after shells have hit, giving comfort to the wounded, and even helping to capture a German soldier.

In the trenches, Conroy is befriended by the burly Gaston Baptiste (Gérard Depardieu), a tough French soldier with a passion for food and a gentle heart, who longs to return to his wife and children. His American comrades include the pudgy, cantankerous Olsen (Jordan Beck) and the bespectacled German-American, Schroeder (Jim Pharr). The former takes an instant dislike to Stubby, while the latter is eager to prove that he is fully an American despite his German heritage.

Not a drop of blood is ever shown in the film, though the gravity of combat is well-portrayed, with soldiers being wounded and even dying.  And some scenes are a bit scary—especially those showing the Germans using poison gas, with the Allied soldiers donning gas masks—but none so frightening so as to be inappropriate for younger children.

Throughout the film, love of country and duty are emphasized. The colonel of the 102nd tells Conroy and his comrades at the conclusion of their training:

“I’ve watched you men become soldiers. It makes me proud…. Now, take this weekend to write your letters and say your farewells. And pray that we will all be home safe and sound very soon. We ship out Monday night. God bless us all, and God bless the United States of America.”

The film is narrated by Conroy’s sister Margaret, voiced by the legendary Helena Bonham Carter, who adds considerable pathos to the film. The remarkable score is by Patrick Doyle.

Sgt. Stubby ought to be an American classic, enjoyed again and again, especially on patriotic holidays, by the entire family.

Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero is available to watch on Amazon Prime.

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Images courtesy of IMDb.