Detailed Animal Action Report

Two Great Danes were alternately used for the part of Hamlet in this film. One was a two year old male and the other was a four year old female. A total of five trainers were on the set at all times. The actors were introduced to the dogs by the trainers before the filming began. The first time Hamlet meets Amanda he runs out of an elevator, jumps up on her and begins to hump her. Hamlet puts his head up her skirt. The trainer released the dog and it ran to Amanda who was holding a hotdog above her head. The dog jumped up and then began to hump Amanda. This dog has a natural urge to hump and go under women’s skirts. In the later scenes where Hamlet is shown jumping up on Amanda and knocking her down, the actress again held a hotdog in her hands up over her head. This made the dog jump up. The trainer would retrieve the dog and the actress would lie down on the ground. The trainer put the dog ontop of Amanda and the cameraman would quickly film the shot. When Hamlet is shown licking Amanda’s face, some butter was put on her face and the trainer verbally cued the dog to lick it off. A stunt woman doubled for the actress in these scenes. Beluga Whales seen swimming in tanks were filmed at an aquarium in Canada. The dead fly that was stuck on the end of the dagger was provided by the prop department.