Pit bull from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' named top dog of Cannes Film Festival
Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is top dog at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival – literally and officially.
The movie, which takes place in 1969 against the backdrop of the Manson murders, was recognized as having the best canine performance of any movie at this year's festival.
On Friday, Tarantino accepted the Palm Dog – a riff on the festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or – on behalf of Brandy the pit bull, who is owned by Brad Pitt’s character in the film.
Sadly, Brandy was not in attendance, so Haru, an Italian mastiff, stood in for her as photographers shot Tarantino showing off the trophy: a red dog collar with the words "Palm Dog" embossed on it.
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"I have no idea if we're going to win the Palme d'Or," he told the crowd at Friday's Palm Dog ceremony, which has honored the festival's best dog-centric films since 2001. "But I did feel I was in good standing to win the Palm Dog."
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Tarantino, who wrote and directed "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," added “I want to dedicate this to my wonderful actress Brandy. She has brought the Palm Dog home to America."
This is not the first time a dog from a Tarantino film has been nominated: In 2009, the black poodle that belonged to Nazi Joseph Goebbels mistress in "Inglorious Basterds" lost to Dug, the squirrel-obsessed golden retriever from the animated Pixar film "Up."
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pit bull from 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' named top dog of Cannes Film Festival
