Chestnut: Hero of Central Park

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Vince directs. Arthur E. Cooper behind the camera. Brahm Wenger scores. Jason Pielak cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in French, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
• 2Released 22 years ago.
• 3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: French, English.
• 4Directed by Robert Vince, shot by Arthur E. Cooper. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 5Original score by Brahm Wenger. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 6Editor Jason Pielak shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 7Abigail Breslin and Makenzie Vega and Irene Olga López carry the top of the cast.
• 8IMDB entry: tt0387925 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 9Released under 16 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography

Arthur E. Cooper

Original score

Brahm Wenger

Editing

Jason Pielak

Production design

Peter Andringa

Costume design

Allisa Swanson

Makeup / hair

Charmaine Clark

VFX supervisor

Mark Savela

Sound

James Fonnyadt

Runtime

86 min · 1h 26m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

G

IMDB

Chestnut: Hero of Central Park (2004) ↗

IMDB rating

5.8/10 · 1,793 votes

MPAA

G

Also by

Robert Vince

• 
  Pup Academy

  2019 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Scaredy Cats

  2021 · ★ 6.6
• 
  The Search for Santa Paws

  2010 · ★ 6.3
• 
  Spymate

  2006 · ★ 6.2
• 
  Pup Star: Better 2Gether

  2017 · ★ 6.2
• 
  Snow Buddies

  2008 · ★ 6.1

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper

Production companies

Who made it

• ST

  Studio Hamburg WorldWide Pictures

  DE

• KE

  Keystone Entertainment

• KE

  Keystone Pictures

  CA

• AI

  Air Bud Entertainment

Key crew

• ProducerWolfgang Esenwein
• EditorJason Pielak
• CastingLorna Johnson
• Production DesignPeter Andringa
• Costume DesignAllisa Swanson
• On Set DresserPatrick Jennings
• Sound EngineerEric J. Paul
• Post Production SupervisorEmanuel Pereira
• Assistant HairdresserCharmaine Clark
• Third Assistant DirectorJody Ryan
• Storyboard ArtistMarcus Endean
• Production ManagerDarcy Wild
• Second Unit DirectorAnna McRoberts
• Unit ManagerScott Watson
• First Assistant DirectorJoanne Gerein
• Makeup Department HeadDana Hamel
• Second Assistant DirectorPhilip Katsikas
• Assistant Makeup ArtistApril Boyes
• First Assistant DirectorIan Birkett
• Key Hair StylistEmma Clarke
• Scenic ArtistCameron Boon
• Sound MixerScott Aitken
• Sound DesignerJames Fonnyadt
• Sound EngineerJeff Grout

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• human animal relationship
• dog
• pets
• orphan siblings

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical2004-10-21G

Also known as

International titles

• Hjältehunden Från New YorkSE
• El SabuesoAR
• Chestnut - Un eroe a quattro zampeIT
• Tøser og hundDK
• OrzeszekPL
• Chestnut - O Herói do Central ParkBR
• Chestnut – Der Held vom Central ParkDE
• Chestnut: un perro fuera de lo comúnES
• ChestnutNL
• Panique à Central ParkFR
• Eb a titka mindennekHU
• Палето Кестен: Героят от Сентрал паркBG
• Chestnut: un héroe en el Central ParkAR
• Koiruuksia keskuspuistossaFI
• Chestnut - L'eroe di Central ParkIT