run out of time for him. "nightline" is next, thanks for watching, good night! this is "nightline." >> tonight, sled dogs. a mystical centuries-old tradition glorified in the famed iditarod race. >> the experiences that you have out there with the dogs are just phenomenal. >> but some say beneath the romance and adventure, an underbelly of abuse. >> if we knew what was really going on behind the sled dog industry, the public would not support this. >> an inside look at this controversial sport. plus christmas stories. once the bb gun-obsessed ralphie in "a christmas story" -- >> i can't wait to try it out. >> actor p

us inside another classic. >> santa! >> sharing secret from the set of "elf." and the stories behind some of the most memorable movie moments. but first the "nightline 5." it's black friday at jcpenney and the challenge is on. doors open thursday at 2:00 p.m. get in early and get $20 for him and her. up to 80% off select jewelry. kitchen electrics $7.99. unbeatable black friday dailies. jcpenney. my shoulders carry a lot of names. some i deserve, others i don't. but in the end, only one name really matters. the shoulders are made for greatness, not dandruff. >> number one in just 60 seconds.

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good evening. thank you for joining us. the images of dog sledding we see are majestic and thrilling. bright-eyed huskies racing in the pure snow in the wilderness. a filmmaker and animal lover argues the sport is one of cruelty and exploitation, an assertion avid dog sledders reject. here's abc's clayton sandell. >> reporter: a mystical tradition centuries old. >> it's a really cool thing to travel with these dogs. >> reporter: the storied last great race, the eye rit rod, traverses over 1,000 miles of alaskan wilderness. >> the experiences that you have out there are phenomenal. >> reporter: man and man's best friend braving subzero temperatures, extreme test of teamwork and endurance. >> they're athletes. these dogs are very enthusiastic. >> reporter: beyond the wreaths and prize money, behind the ice-blue eyes and shiny coats, some allege lies a bitter story. last month, another sports doping scandal, this time

dogs. when iditarod officials said four tested positive for a banned painkiller. >> this is the first year in 25 years that we've had a positive test. >> reporter: dallas sievy, a four-time iditarod champ, denies drugging the dogs on his team and says any tampering may have happened after the race while his dogs were unattended. >> i have done nothing wrong. i have never knowingly broken any race rule. i have never given any banned substance to my dogs. >> reporter: but a controversial new documentary called "sled dogs" -- >> they have no idea what is going on. >> reporter: claims that neglect, cruelty, and abuse in the world of dog sledding is common practice. >> it's kind of like somebody running a marathon. and tomorrow we're going to go run another marathon. and now somebody asks you to run ten in a row. that's what these guys are doing. >> if we knew that what was really going on behind the sled dog industry, that these dogs are in fact used and abused, for mushers to make a profit, the

>> reporter: director fern leaven wants her film to be the "black fish" of dog sledding. >> a whale has eaten one of the trainers. >> reporter: a reference to the 2013 documentary credited with helping end killer whale shows at seaworld. >> i made this film for the public because i wanted the public to see the reality that they've never been seen before. >> reporter: leavitt said she decided to focus on changing the industry after adopting her own retired sled dog. when you hear about these sled dogs you hear, they love doing this. they love running with their buddies. they love going out there and hitting the trail. this is what they're bred for, this is what they're built for. >> yeah, that's the narrative that i've heard. that was the narrative i believed was true as well. but then what i found out is, this is a business. and these mushers who run these places are here to make money. >> reporter: sled "sled dogs" follows rookie patrick beal during the 2016 iditarod. >> my name is patrick.

grail. >> reporter: as the race grinds on -- >> guys just don't want the water, do you. >> reporter: leavitt claims the dogs on his team are too exhausted to even eat or drink. >> i have a dog that has a high heart rate. it's a warm day. every now and then dogs get diarrhea. >> reporter: the film shows a veterinarian cautioning beal. >> his heart rate, you know, about 120, which is right at the very max. i'm a little worried about him. >> reporter: but he decides to continue the race anyway. >> patrick put his own needs to win that race ahead of what's best for that dog. that was a sick dog that needed to be dropped this that wasn't dropped, because his motivation was winning the race. >> reporter: but beal says the filmmakers weren't even there for what happened next. >> when i left, the dog's heart rate was fine. it had hit an equilibrium point. and that dog finished iditarod with me. it's not like someone goes and gets into running sled dogs because they want to aband

and especially iditarod mushers. >> reporter: many in the dog sledding communitisy that the film is flawed. >> her ref futuretation was distorted. >> reporter: he's the chief advice narian for the iditarod for 23 years. >> these dogs have a very specific purpose, very specific talent. these dogs are bred very specifically as marathon athletes. that's what they do. that's what their passion is for. >> eye rit rod says you're an animal rights activist with an agenda. what do you say to that? >> i do of love animals, there's no question that i do. but i did this because this was a story kept hidden. and i knew that i had to, as a documentary filmmaker, bring this to light. >> reporter: in response to last year's doping scandal the iditarod strengthened its rules. the musher wants to see the drug test results and methodology adding, i believe this is the first positive step that can be taken to shed a public light on

what has been alleged, to clear my good name and the name of our beloved sport." in "sled dogs" leavitt takes aim at tethering, something she says amounts to a dog spending its entire life on a leash. >> this goes against the natural instincts and the natural behavior of dogs. when you think about it, what species, what any kind of species, is going to survive and thrive living its life on the end of a chain? >> reporter: one of the sled dog kennels shown is krablunik, located in colorado. some of the dogs here have run the iditarod. >> these dogs are here to be stored until they make money. >> reporter: the documentary looks at local activists' attempts to shut it down starting in 2008, claiming the to gets were horribly mistreated. >> i saw dogs circling on their chains for hours. circle and circle and circle. i saw no people providing any care for the dogs. >> muddy grounds, they would eat and defecate in exactly the same spot. and legally the dogs were supp

chains. >> i will remind everybody that i'm not doing anything illegal. >> reporter: dan was the owner at the time. >> there's no violations in terms of legality. >> reporter: but in 2013, colorado authorities made a surprise inspection. >> that's what they found eight dogs that were malnourished, some needed vet care, and dan was charged for animal cruelty on eight counts. >> reporter: dan died in 2016. he pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty. the other seven charges dismissed. >> i live for the day when the chains are broken and all those dogs go into loving homes where they belong. >> do you want this industry shut down completely? >> yes. i want this industry to be shut down completely. just like i want the circuses to be shut down completely. because it's cruel. >> reporter: today it's owned by danny and gina philips. in winter tourists spend hundreds for sled dog rides. they invited us in, insisting

portrayed in the film. >> there have been terrible things that have happened. dan was terrible. but it doesn't define the whole mushing community as a whole. >> reporter: as we walk around here, if i were here 10, 15 years ago, what's different today? >> the love. you know, really, that's -- we love these dogs. these are -- every minute, every waking minute with these dogs, is love. they needed us, we needed them. >> reporter: in the offseason the dogs are allowed to run free for an hour a day. gina and danny admit they're tethered the other 23, but insist they're happy. what do you tell people who see these dogs on the tethers for 23 hours a day, and say it's cruel? >> it's not cruel. you know, there's so much more going on than just running. >> there's always something going on. they're cleaning or they're petting them or brushing them or feeding them. it's just a different thought than what you're used to seeing when you see the dog in the backyard. here it's a different environment. they're always getting contact.

>> reporter: after an hour of running, it's snack time. why are they howling? >> after every amount of care that we do with the dogs, they thank us for the care that we gave them. >> this is a thank you howl? >> this is a thank you. this is a happy howl. >> let's go, guys, come on! >> reporter: seth runs the aspen animal shelter. he briefly worked at the business years ago under the previous owner. >> i used the word controlled chaos -- >> reporter: he rescued six of the sled dogs as pets, including suri. >> i call my place lost dog ranch. she was my most scared dog and undersocialized. she just graduated today, this is insane, she's loving, affectionate -- >> how long? >> forever, it's been a process. >> reporter: he sit the upside is with lots of rehabilitation there can be life after a career in sledding. >> this is progress. >> this is progress. >> i'm on a high. >> if i walk away with anything positive from our

with you. >> reporter: for "nightline" i'm clayton sandell in snow mass, colorado. >> "sled dogs" is available on video on demand. next, it took a lot of christmas magic to make this christmas classic. director jon favreau takes us inside the making of "elf." she's nationally recognized for her compassion and care. he spent decades fighting to give families a second chance. but to help others, they first had to protect themselves. i have afib. even for a nurse, it's complicated... and it puts me at higher risk of stroke. that would be devastating. i had to learn all i could to help protect myself. once i got the facts, my doctor and i chose xarelto®. xarelto®... to help keep me protected. once-daily xarelto®, a latest-generation blood thinner... ...significantly lowers the risk of stroke in people with afib not caused by a heart valve problem. it has similar effectiveness to warfarin. xarelto® works differently. warfarin interferes with at least 6 blood-clotting factors. xarelto® is selective, targeting just one critical factor interacting

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you probably remember actor peter billingsley as ralphie, the young boy obsessed with getting a red rider bb gun in "a christmas story." he also made a c

discussing the challenges and joys of making christmas movie magic with director jon favreau. >> santa's sleigh! >> you're going to help me make it fly. oh, looks like we got a short on the thermal coupler. >> reporter: at the beginning of the movie "elf," it's becoming clear to will ferrell's character buddy he's not exactly the santa's helper he thinks he is. >> oh, i know that. >> hey. >> reporter: there i am playing the boss ming-ming calling him out for being the worst toymaker ever. >> 915 off the pace. >> reporter: jon favreau directed the story of a human raised by santa's elves. >> part of why i asked you to cameo in the film was because i wanted some of "the christmas story," that good mojo. that was our

we're half joking. maybe some of this will be like "christmas story" where every year you'll watch it. >> reporter: "a christmas story" wasn't the only source of inspiration. jon rewrote the original, darker screenplay and studied classic tv christmas specials like this one. >> i knew that nose would be useful someday! >> reporter: which like its namesake has gone down in history. ♪ rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose ♪ >> reporter: made in 1974, painstakingly shot frame by frame with stop-motion puppets and is the longest-running, highest-rated tv special of all-time. >> buddy the elf was a kid that grew up in "a christmas special." >> hello, buddy. >> hi, leon. >> reporter: to keep the look of the film like one of those old classics, favreau chose not to use modern computer-generated effects, instead went with an old-school technique, something called forced perspective. you can see how

dvd extra. >> you have two different sets that line up. the person in the closer set will appear to be larger than the person in the set further back. >> reporter: buddy's elf costume was modeled after the elves' outfit like hermie's, the dentist's. >> it looks almost like he's a puppet. and the tights and the boots and the hat. then he was extremely brave, wearing that costume. >> reporter: when "elf" was made in 2003, ferrell was not yet a movie star. fresh out of "snl," he had been part of an ensemble cast in a decidedly different movie, the adult r-rated comedy "old school." >> we're going streaking! >> one of the things that stood out to me was how the comedy is. "christmas story" is funny but "elf" is laugh out loud

>> okay, people, tomorrow moneying 10:00 a.m. santa's coming to town. >> santa! oh my god! santa, here? i know him! >> where i found the comedy was to be very sincere about the christmas story, then have him go to new york where it's the real world and jimmy khan is your dad. ♪ i love you i love you i love you ♪ >> wow, that was weird. >> reporter: james khan, famous for his role with quick-tempered sonny coleone in "the godfather." >> perfect casting with james khan, you can get in screen history can't get any more opposite. >> sonny corleone, right. >> i am not going to tuck you in. >> all right, let's do this. >> reporter: some of the big names were unknowns at the time. >> yes! >> reporter: here's a pre-"game of thrones" dinklage in the fight scene. >> call me elf one more time. >> he's an angry elf.

>> look at you! ow! >> reporter: and playing the part of the fake santa at the department store -- >> hot heck are you? >> what are you talking about? i'm santa claus. >> no, you're not. >> reporter: artie lange, known for his seven-year tenure with shock jock howard stern. >> he took time to come off. >> a big get? >> so great, he was happy to be there too. >> reporter: when he realizes santas fake, buddy gives us those now-classic lines. >> all right. >> you smell like beef and cheese, you don't smell like santa. >> improvised. i made sure i smelled like beef and cheese. i always smell like that. i'm italian, it passes as cologne. >> you're on a throne of lies. >> improv. "throne of lies," first time i heard that is when he said it. >> reporter: then things got physical.

>> he's a fake! >> reporter: it took the art department weeks to build that set. and all those elaborate christmas decorations. >> we had one take to destroy it. favreau says, just go nuts. >> okay, what do we got here? >> you i know tend to cameo in them. >> yeah. >> you play the doctor in this. does the dna test. >> ow! >> it's fun to be in the movie and see myself. what i'm more proud of is the voice. the narwahl comes out of the water, that's my voice. bye, buddy, hope you find your dad. >> thanks, mr. narwal. >> that's the one on t-shirts and sweaters. >> reporter: what most people remember "elf" for is how much they love it and how much they want to watch it every holiday season. >> it's surprising how each year it just gets higher and higher on people's lists. i wouldn't have pdi

new york, dressed as an elf, i thought, this could be my last movie. >> big impact. >> and it went the other way. i feel so fortunate. i'm so glad that's become part of the lexicon. and next, he opened his doors and his beds to the victims of hurricane harvey. now mattress mack helping houston celebrate thanksgiving with another incredible gesture.

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finally tonight, as we get ready to give thanks tomorrow, we can count this man among our blessings. mattress mack, who opened his furniture store to displaced families during hurricane harvey, is getting ready to serve up another act of grace. preparing nearly 100,000 pounds of food to feed nearly 20,000 texans at a free thanksgiving dinner. mack says the only requirement to come is that you've got to have a good appetite. it was the late american preacher w.t.

not what we say about our blessings but how we use them is the true measure of our thanksgiving. thank you for watching abc news. as always we're online at abcnews.com and our "nightline" facebook page. thanks for the company, america. good night. >> 1 player, 3 lifelines, 14 questions and $1 million up for grabs. it all starts right now. on "who wants to be a millionaire." [cheers and applause] [dramatic music] ♪

hey, everybody! welcome to "millionaire." you guys ready to go today? [cheers and applause] well, let's welcome our first contestant. a comedian from brooklyn, new york. james coker's here. >> hi. >> let's see how funny you are when you get to that $1 million question. [laughter] you're about to face 14 questions from $500 all the way up to $1 million. you have your 3 lifelines there if and when you need them. >> all right, great. >> let's get to your game, and let's play "who wants to be a millionaire." [dramatic musical flourish] ♪ $500 question starts us off. good luck. >> thank you. >> in a popular saying, a sudden, unexpected win is referred to as "snatching victory from the" what? >> these are all great, but i'm gonna have to go with "a," jaws of defeat. final answer.