PAWSITIVELY FAMOUS

George Clooney’s pet pig & 9 other famous pets

Image: Paul Hanaoka

There's probably a special pet from your childhood whose memory still makes you smile, or perhaps you currently share your house with a unique furry friend. Since ancient times, humans have sought and valued the companionship of animals, and even the most famous people -from superstars to historical figures- have had faithful pets. Some of these creatures caught people's attention, becoming celebrities themselves. Join us to remember these 10 famous pets!

Image: Vlad Kutepov

Nobody can deny Elvis Presley's impact on art and culture. Known as the "King of Rock and Roll," he stood out not only in music but also in fashion and style.

In Graceland, alongside his dogs and horses, Elvis welcomed an unusual company in 1961: Scatter, the chimpanzee. Scatter quickly became a friend for Elvis, going with him to concerts and movie sets. However, the mischievous primate often tested the boundaries of decorum. Can you imagine the King saying "Scatter, no!"?

Image: David Clode

Two years before becoming the president of the United States, Andrew Jackson acquired a parrot. No big deal, right? Well, the thing is Poll, President Jackson's parrot, had a "talent."

Poll had something that set him apart from the rest: a tendency to profanity. It remains a mystery where he learned that language, but one thing's for sure: the parrot cursed like a sailor, saying bad words at inappropriate places.

Image: Rick L

While it's cute to imagine Mike Tyson holding a small puppy, it's true that the successful boxer also had big (and eccentric) pets.

In Tyson's huge mansion, there was not one, not two, but three Bengal tigers. That's right; three imposing tigers in the comfort of his home. As these creatures matured, Tyson decided to donate two of them to a local sanctuary. However, he kept one: Kenya, his favorite. Tyson had Kenya as a companion for 16 years!

Image: Melissa Keizer

After some exotic animals, now it's time to talk about a more common pet: a puppy. In particular, Richard Nixon's cocker spaniel.

The Nixon family received the black and white puppy as a gift, and he became an important part of the family. The children gave this little friend a suitable name: Checkers.

Though he never lived in the White House, Checkers is remembered by many Americans. In 1952, he was mentioned in a famous speech delivered by Richard Nixon, bringing Checkers to national fame.

Image: Scott Carroll

When the famous Audrey Hepburn was filming her movie Green Mansions (1959), she met a baby deer that was part of the cast. To improve their chemistry, someone suggested that Hepburn should adopt the deer as her pet. And it turned out to be a great idea!

The actress and her deer forged a special bond, so strong that she would take her friend along for shopping, much like one might with a puppy or a cat. Cute, right?

Image: Steven Van Elk

Winston Churchill was not only a statesman but also a pet owner. Among his many animals -which included dogs, cats, horses, and even fish- one particular mate stood out: his toy poodle, Rufus.

Photographs abound of the former Prime Minister with his brown little dog, suggesting that Rufus was a constant companion for him.

Image: Jon Butterworth

Let's be honest: piglets are adorable when they're tiny. However, as they grow, they can become a bit intimidating. Fortunately, this wasn't an impediment for George Clooney. Quite the opposite!

The successful actor fell in love with a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig in the early 1990s and kept it as his pet for almost 20 years. It seems that George Clooney doesn't judge a book by its cover.

Image: Shelly Collins

John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, has a very unusual pet. We're not talking about a parrot or a pig, but an alligator!

While some experts affirm this story is just a legend, its fame is undeniable. There's a funny detail: It's been said that Adams would play a prank on guests by inviting them into the bathroom where the alligator was kept just to see their reactions!

Image: Khalid Elkady

Just as politicians and actors, artists also have a place on this list.

Among Pablo Picasso's pets, one stood out: Lump, the dachshund. Their friendship lasted over 15 years!

Picasso's love for Lump transcended companionship, as the painter also included the dog in his art. One of the most famous examples is a special drawing by Picasso: a single-line depiction of a dachshund. This artwork can illustrate the strong bond between the artist and his pet.

Image: Andrea Lightfoot

A list of famous pets wouldn't be complete without a kitty. And when it comes to famous cats, Socks, the Clintons' cat, must have a top spot.

Named for his black fur and white paws, Socks arrived at the White House during Bill Clinton's presidency, gaining many fans along the way. Socks was so popular that the little animal had a website dedicated to him, providing people with a platform to send messages of affection to the kitty.

ARTISTIC ALLIANCES

Relive 10 Great Literary Classics Turned Into Outstanding Movies

Image: Suzy Hazelwood

Despite using very different languages, cinema has sought inspiration in literature practically since its beginnings. Some of the greatest stories of the seventh art are adaptations from classic books.

Although we hear the expression "The book is better than the movie" quite a lot, there are vast examples in which film adaptations live up to the stories that inspired them. Many times, when watching movies based on our favorite novels, we can discover new dimensions, delightful supporting characters, and surprising subplots we didn’t even know were there. Here are 10 great movies where the synergy between film and literature worked to perfection.

Image: Kabiur Rahman Riyad

Considered one of the most important novels in American literature, To Kill a Mockingbird revolves around a widowed lawyer who feels a great responsibility to uphold the law and set a good example for his children. The novel was first published in 1960 and just two years later Atticus Finch became a cinematic legend thanks to Gregory Peck and Robert Mulligan's adaptation of Harper Lee's literary original. One of the best and most remembered trial films, it raised the issue of the institutional racism that prevailed in American society.

Peck's portrayal of this complex character was so good that it earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. In addition, years later the American Film Institute recognized his brilliant version of Atticus Finch as the greatest hero in the history of cinema, surpassing the likes of Indiana Jones, James Bond, Han Solo, and Rocky Balboa.

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British author Jane Austen is one of the most adapted writers of all time —from Sense and Sensibility to Emma, there are a large number of great films based on her books. But Joe Wright’s adaptation of Pride and Prejudice (2005) is probably one of the most iconic and also the one that best captured the novelist's sense of humor.

As a result of the director's attention to detail, the film was a great success with audiences and critics alike. In fact, this great work of adaptation was granted an Oscar nomination for Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction. In addition, Keira Knightley was nominated for Best Actress for her accurate and memorable portrayal of Elizabeth Bennet. Donald Sutherland’s scene-stealing role as the weary but gentle Mr. Bennet deserves a special mention. If you don’t trust us, just go back and watch the memorable scene where he gives Elizabeth his consent to marry Mr Darcy. Prepare to shed a few tears!

Image: Tim Alex

Undoubtedly the most famous vampire of all time, the story of Dracula has been adapted to film countless times. We all have the pale face of the Count played by Béla Lugosi in 1931 imprinted in our memory, but perhaps the best adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel is the one released sixty years later. In his 1992 version, Francis Ford Coppola was able to take this classic story to levels never seen before, thanks to an excellent cast led by Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, and Anthony Hopkins.

As if this were not enough, this adaptation sought to explain the origins of the vampire, making very clear the causes of his curse and his eternal conflict with God. In this way, Coppola was able to turn one of the most classic monsters of gothic literature into one of the most chilling creatures of cinema, whose aged appearance and twisted shadow are capable of terrifying anyone.

Image: micheile henderson

Margaret Mitchell's brilliant novel was surely one of the most important adaptation challenges in the history of cinema. Fortunately, the result could not have been better. Victor Fleming's film brought to the big screen —as early as 1939 and in dazzling Technicolor—, one of the best love stories of all time. The director’s meticulous care of every detail of the production can be seen in the breathtaking images showing the aftermath of the American Civil War.

The impressive acting work of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable as Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler are out of this world. Still considered one of the most important and tragic couples in celluloid history, their performance earned them an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. If you haven't seen it yet, you should know that this is a must-see classic for anyone who claims to be a movie buff!

Image: Kelly Brito

With over 65 published novels it is no wonder that Stephen King is one of the most adapted American authors in the history of cinema. Quintessential films like The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980) and Misery (Rob Reiner, 1990) have given us some of the most legendary scares of our lives. But perhaps Brian De Palma's version of Carrie (1976) is the most faithful approach to a King text, as well as being one of the best films about adolescence and the real terrors it entails.

Sissy Spacek's memorable performance as Carrie and the iconic prom scene will remain in the memory of viewers for generations. Thanks to De Palma's cinematic approach, this movie version of the novel has left a lasting mark on horror cinema and solidified Stephen King's indisputable storytelling talent for the big screen.

Image: Ioann-Mark Kuznietsov

Although it is one of the most successful films of the 20th century —adjusted for inflation, it is the ninth highest-grossing film in the history of the United States—, some claim that this 1965 three-hour-long screen version of Doctor Zhivago gives excessive attention to the romance between Yuri and Lara, omitting the political message of the original book.

Arguments aside, the technical perfection of the film —it won 5 Academy Awards at the time— and the excellent performance of Omar Sharif have been enough for many to consider this adaptation of Boris Pasternak's novel as one of the greatest classics of all time. In addition, the work of director David Lean is considered a great achievement, even above one of his previous masterpieces, Lawrence of Arabia.

Image: micheile henderson

Another literary classic adapted to the big screen many times, Little Women got a revival in 2019 thanks to Greta Gerwig's modern take. Although the book portrays a historical moment totally different from our current reality, Gerwig manages to give the film that touch of freshness that makes a classic feel current and new. The truth is that her focus on female empowerment and the existential crises of growing up are things we can still identify with today.

In this way, the director —who was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay— manages to tell the same story we all know and love through a new lens, while remaining true to the spirit of Louisa May Alcott's 1868 novel. In addition, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet make the most of every moment on screen as they play these memorable characters with mastery and emotion.

Image: Daria Kraplak

Patricia Highsmith is another of the great American authors who has given the world amazing books that were later adapted into films. Carol, The American Friend, and Strangers on a Train are just a few examples. But the 1999 version of The Talented Mr. Ripley by Anthony Mighella is the most famous adaptation of a Highsmith novel and perhaps the best of the whole Ripley saga.

With a stellar cast that included Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow as the happy couple and Matt Damon in the role of the charming yet terrible Tom Ripley, the film was a total success. Nominated for five Academy Awards, The Talented Mr. Ripley left us some of the greatest scenes in film history.

Image: Suzy Hazelwood

In 1998, Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón decided to take the story of Charles Dickens's literary classic Great Expectations and make it into a film. However, he did not limit himself to the original premise and structure but gave it a twist. He chose to set the story in the present day, turning Pip —here called Finn— into a young dreamer whose mysterious benefactor helps him travel to New York to become a great artist capable of fighting for his dreams.

The film stood out for its excellent soundtrack, the use of a green tone color palette, and above all, for an excellent cast that included big Hollywood names such as Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Cooper, Robert DeNiro, and Anne Bancroft.

Image: Armando Arauz

Many of the best science fiction films of all time are based on classic books. For example, Total Recall, War of the Worlds, and Solaris have been adapted from the works of renowned authors. But perhaps the best one in this genre is Blade Runner, directed by Ridley Scott in 1982.

Starring Harrison Ford, this futuristic classic with neo-noir touches is based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, written by Phillip K. Dick in 1968. In a dystopian future where humans are manufactured and transferred to colonies located outside of Earth, bounty hunter Rick Deckard will have to confront them. Although at the time of its release, it did not receive much recognition, this film loaded with philosophical connotations has managed to transcend both frontiers and generations to become a cult movie adored by fans all over the world.