First Canine Movie Star!

Rover and the baby, played by Blair the dog and Barbara Hepworth.

In 1905 the first canine movie star (a Collie), was featured in “Rescued by Rover” directed by Cecil Hepworth. The silent film is about a dog who leads his master to his kidnapped baby, which was the first to feature the Hepworth’s family dog Blair in a starring role; following the release, the dog became a household name and he is considered to be the first dog film star.

Four hundred prints were sold, so many that the negatives wore out twice, requiring the film to be re-shot each time. Two professional actors were paid to appear, and the film is cited as the first film to have used paid actors.