Benji (1974)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Joe Camp

Writer:

Joe Camp (writer)

Release Date:

17 October 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Romance

Plot:

A stray dog saves two kidnapped children.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Kidnapping | Hostage | Blockbuster | Animal Actor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Patsy Garrett	...	Mary
Allen Fiuzat	...	Paul
Cynthia Smith	...	Cindy
Peter Breck	...	Dr. Chapman
Frances Bavier	...	Lady with the Cat
Terry Carter	...	Officer Tuttle
Edgar Buchanan	...	Bill
Tom Lester	...	Riley
Christopher Connelly	...	Henry
Deborah Walley	...	Linda
Mark Slade	...	Mitch
Herb Vigran	...	Lt. Samuels
Larry Swartz	...	Floyd
J.D. Young	...	Second Policeman
Erwin Hearne	...	Mr. Harvey

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Denton, Texas, USA

Company:

Mulberry Square Productions

Trivia:

This film was apparently a guilty pleasure of 'Alfred Hitchcock'.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the white dog "Tiffany" comes to the abandoned house for the first time, as she is climbing into the house, you can see a crew member down below spotting her as she climbs onto a high rail.

Quotes:

Paul: Is Benji here yet?
Mary: Yes, Benji's here yet.
Paul: [calling out the kitchen door] Cindy, he's here.
Mary: Well he won't be here for long if you don't stop that yelling. You know what happens if your father walks in.
Paul: I don't think Dad understands about us and Benji.
Mary: I don't think you understand what an understatement you just made.
Paul: What's understatement mean?
Mary: It means don't yell down the hall.
Cindy: [entering the kitchen] Where's Benji?
Mary: Don't yell in the kitchen, do you want your father in here?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Barnaby and Me (1977) (TV)

The dog star of the 70s

Every decade, or so it seems, Hollywood likes to build films around a cute dog. The early seventies was the era for "Benji", whose real name was Higgins, an attractive and photogenic dog that had already had a recurring role in "Petticoat Junction", the successful sitcom of the sixties. Edgar Buchanan, one of the stars from that show is on hand to act with an old pal again.

Joe Camp, the director and screen writer, targeted this film toward a young audience of children under ten. Higgins and his trainer, Frank Inn, do wonders for the film. "Benji" shows a dog that has a natural intelligence and responds well to whatever it was asked to do. The film will delight young children.

Some other faces in the movie are Frances Bavier, Deborah Walley, Patsy Garrett and others. Although the movie is predictable, let's not forget it was targeted for a young audience that will probably appreciate it more than the grown ups.