The Friend – A Heartwarming Movie Starring Billy Murray, Naomi Watts & Bing the Great Dane

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120 – May, 2025

By Sarah Montague

If your cultural institution is approaching its 150th anniversary, there are two ways to celebrate. Draw attention to its past–mention that it is the second-oldest sporting event in America, recently returned to its traditional venue, Madison Square Garden. Or note its venturesome present and new partnership with a state-of-the-art multipurpose site–the Javits Center. Remind people that it exists to celebrate the human/canine bond. Or, try something new–become part of the publicity campaign for a major motion picture that celebrates that bond.

And there you have the context for the Westminster Kennel Club’s invitation-only screening of The Friend, a film based on the best-selling novel by Norwegian writer Sigrid Nunez. It stars two Hollywood stalwarts, Naomi Watts and Bill Murray–and a very promising newcomer, the five-year-old Bing, a regal Harlequin Great Dane, who is the “friend” in question.

On stage at the Angelika, a trendy movie house in New York City’s Soho neighborhood where the screening was held, WKC President Donald Sturz talked about his decision to make the Club part of The Friend’s orbit.

“This is a really special evening for us. The Friend really connects with what WKC’s all about. And that is celebrating the role of dogs in our lives, the comfort, the joy, the love they bring to our lives every day. And I think this film truly captures that bond. When we were first contacted [by the film’s publicists] about being a part of this adventure, I said, ‘Well, the first thing is, I need to see the film.” I kind of got a little full of myself, like, ‘Well, Westminster couldn’t possibly…you know.’ But after seeing the film and drying my eyes, I called Alicia [Alicia Mohr, one of the publicists] and said, ‘Yes, absolutely. Westminster wants to be a part of this. We want this in our journey.’”

Before the screening, I got a chance to speak with Bing’s own-er/handler/trainer Beverly (Bev) Klingensmith. We were in the Angelika foyer, which was adorned with posters from the film, and a life-size cut out of Bing. And of course, Bing himself, attentively flanking Klingensmith as she told their story. It was sort of like hearing a version of Cinderella starring a Great Dane.

Click here to read the complete article
120 – May, 2025

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Posted by AnthonyA on May 12 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.