Antwerp, Belgium

After three American productions (in 1914, 1924 and 1935), the fourth adaptation of the book A DOG OF FLANDERS by the British writer Ouida (pseudonym of Maria Louise Ramé), was the first to be shot on location. As the title indicates, the story is set in Flanders.

A Dog of Flanders, 1:00:31

The novel was first published in 1872. Ouida wrote the story after a visit to Belgium, including a day in Antwerp, where she was confronted with child labor and animal abuse. The main character is the poor orphan boy Nello who lives with his grandfather. They live in the countryside and make a living selling milk in Antwerp. One day they find a neglected and abused dog along the road. Nello takes care of the animal and calls him Patrasche.

In the film Nello says that the dog of the painter Peter Paul Rubens had the same name. In America and Asia, especially Japan, the book became a classic.

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

In Belgium (and also the Netherlands) the novel is hardly known and, just like the tale of the boy who put his finger in the dike, is an example of 'import folklore': a story that is only popular outside the country where it is set. In 1975, the book was made into a 52-part cartoon series in Japan. Japanese tourists still come to Antwerp in search of traces of the story. The Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) and the paintings by Rubens play an important role in it.

Since 2016 a marble statue of a sleeping Nello and Patrasche was placed in front of the cathedral, designed by Batist Vermeulen. The cobblestones of the square act as a blanket.

Handschoenmarkt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

Film company Twentieth-Century Fox chose to shoot the majority of this fourth film version in the Netherlands. Perhaps this choice has to do with the facilities at low costs that were available here, including the Cinetone Studios in Amsterdam, or perhaps it was thought that there is little difference between the neighbouring countries Netherlands and Belgium. The key scenes in and around the Cathedral of Our Lady were filmed on location in July 1959.

In Antwerp, Nello (David Ladd) and his grandfather Jehan (Donald Crisp) are walking their milk cart across the Grote Markt. Some houses have been given a new roof. On the right is the town hall, which was partially covered during our visit due to a renovation. The fence surrounding the building is painted with notable buildings and places in Antwerp, including the statue of Nello and Patrasche.

A Dog of Flanders, 0:23:36

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

Jehan points out to Nello the bronze Brabo fountain in the middle of the Grote Markt. According to a legend, the giant Druon Antigoon cut off the hands of those who did not want to pay a toll and threw them into the Schelde river. The Roman soldier Silvius Brabo managed to kill the giant Druon Antigoon, the moment when he throws away his severed hand is depicted in the fountain by sculptor Jef Lambeaux. According to Jehan, Antwerp ('handwerpen = hand-throwing') owes its name to this moment. The fountain dates back to 1887, 15 years after the book was published. In the film Piet van Gelder (Theodore Bikel) says that the year is 1900.

A Dog of Flanders, 0:24:16

Brabo fountain, Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:24:21

Brabo fountain, Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:24:27

Brabo fountain, Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

Nello wants to become an artist and makes a drawing of the fountain. When Piet van Gelder sees him sketching, he makes a few improvements. His girlfriend and model Corrie (Monique Ahrens) joins them little later.

A Dog of Flanders, 0:28:04

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:28:42

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:29:35

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:30:26

Grote Markt, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

Between two scenes, the statue of Peter Paul Rubens from 1843 is shown on the Groenplaats, a square near the Grote Markt. The Cathedral of Our Lady can be seen in the background. The construction of the church took almost 170 years and was completed in 1521. During our visit, the tower was under scaffolding due to renovation.

A Dog of Flanders, 0:40:01

Groenplaats, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

A Dog of Flanders, 0:39:48

Groenplaats, Antwerp, 28 July 2021

Nello wants to look at Rubens' paintings in the cathedral and has Patrasche wait at the entrance. The entrance to the Cathedral of Our Lady is located on the Handschoenmarkt.

A Dog of Flanders, 0:40:37

Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerpen, 28 July 2021

The church has four paintings by the Flemish artist: The Elevation of the Cross (1609-1610), The Descent from the Cross (1612), The Resurrection of Christ (1612) and The Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1626). At the time, the first two paintings were covered with a curtain and could only be viewed during a guided tour after payment. "The Assumption of the Virgin Mary" is on the main altar and can be viewed by everyone. The statues of the evangelists Luke (with ox) and Mark (with lion) are now in the transept to the right of the main altar.