 Paramount Pictures purchased the film rights for White Dog in 1975 , though the film itself was not produced until 1981 , after Gary 's suicide . Various changes were made from the original novel 's story , including the removal of Gary himself and a tighter focus on the dog . Gary 's wife was replaced in the script with a young , unmarried actress as Paramount wanted the film to show a strong contrast between the loving relationship between the protagonist and the dog 's random attacks . The novel 's hate @-@ filled Muslim black trainer was converted into the character named Keys , who genuinely wished to cure the animal . The novel 's original ending was also changed to make it more pessimistic . Directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Paul Winfield and Kristy McNichol , the film 's theatrical release was suppressed in the United States out of concern of negative press after rumors began circulating from the NAACP that the film was racist . It was released internationally in France and the United Kingdom in 1982 , and broadcast on various American cable television channels . Its first official American release came in December 2008 when The Criterion Collection released the original uncut film to DVD . 
 Paramount Pictures purchased the film rights for White Dog in 1975 , though the film itself was not produced until 1981 , after Gary <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>suicide . Various changes <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> made from the original novel <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>story , including the removal of Gary himself and a tighter focus on the dog . Gary <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>wife was replaced in the script with a young , unmarried actress as Paramount wanted the film to show a strong contrast between the loving relationship between the protagonist and the dog <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>random attacks . The novel <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>hate @-@ filled Muslim black trainer was converted into the character named Keys , <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a>genuinely wished to cure the animal . The novel <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>original ending was also changed to make it more pessimistic . Directed by Samuel Fuller and starring Paul Winfield and Kristy McNichol , the film <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>'s</mark></a>theatrical release was suppressed in the United States out of concern of negative press after rumors began circulating from the NAACP that the film was racist . It was released internationally in France and the United Kingdom in 1982 , and broadcast on various American cable television channels . Its first official American release came in December 2008 when The Criterion Collection released the original uncut film to DVD . 
Paramount pics purchased the film rights for White Dog in 1975 , doe da film itself was not produced untill 1981 , after Gary  suicide . Various changes was made from tdaoriginal novel  story , including the removal of Gary hisself and a tighter focus on thdaog . Gary  wife was replaced in the script witt a young , unmarried actress as Paramount wanted the film to show a strong contrast between thedaving relationship between the protagonist and the da  random attacks . The novel  hate @-@ filled Muslim black trainer was converted into the cdaacter named Keys , genuinely wished to cure the andal . The novda original ending was also changed to make it more pessimistic . Directed by Samuel Fuller and starin Paul Winfield and Kristy McNichol , the film  theatrical release was suppressed in the United States outt of concern of negative press after rumors began circulating from the NAACP that the film was racist . It was released internationally in France and the United Kingdom in 1982 , and broadcast on various American cable television channels . Its first official American release came in December 2008 when The Criterion Collection released the original uncut film to DVD .