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IMDbPro

Ben

  • 1972
  • PG
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
Ben (1972)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer1:50
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaHorrorThriller

A lonely boy befriends Ben, the leader of a violent pack of killer rats.A lonely boy befriends Ben, the leader of a violent pack of killer rats.A lonely boy befriends Ben, the leader of a violent pack of killer rats.

  • Director
    • Phil Karlson
  • Writers
    • Stephen Gilbert
    • Gilbert Ralston
  • Stars
    • Lee Montgomery
    • Joseph Campanella
    • Arthur O'Connell
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.3/10
    3.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Phil Karlson
    • Writers
      • Stephen Gilbert
      • Gilbert Ralston
    • Stars
      • Lee Montgomery
      • Joseph Campanella
      • Arthur O'Connell
    • 46User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos2

    Ben
    Trailer 1:50
    Watch Ben
    Ben: Lee Montgomery On Working With Ben The Rat
    Featurette 1:18
    Watch Ben: Lee Montgomery On Working With Ben The Rat

    Photos123

    Ben (1972)
    Ben (1972)
    1 sheet, 27 x 41
    Ben (1972)
    Ben (1972)
    Bruce Davison in Willard (1971)
    Ben (1972)
    Lee Montgomery in Ben (1972)
    Ben in Ben (1972)
    Joseph Campanella in Ben (1972)
    Arthur O'Connell in Ben (1972)
    Joseph Campanella, Kaz Garas, Arthur O'Connell, and Hunter von Leer in Ben (1972)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Montgomery
    Lee Montgomery
    • Danny Garrison
    • (as Lee Harcourt Montgomery)
    Joseph Campanella
    Joseph Campanella
    • Cliff Kirtland
    Arthur O'Connell
    Arthur O'Connell
    • Billy Hatfield
    Rosemary Murphy
    Rosemary Murphy
    • Beth Garrison
    Meredith Baxter
    Meredith Baxter
    • Eve Garrison
    Kaz Garas
    Kaz Garas
    • Joe Greer
    Paul Carr
    Paul Carr
    • Kelly
    Richard Van Vleet
    Richard Van Vleet
    • Reade
    Kenneth Tobey
    Kenneth Tobey
    • Engineer
    James Luisi
    James Luisi
    • Ed
    Lee Paul
    Lee Paul
    • Carey
    Norman Alden
    Norman Alden
    • Policeman
    Scott Garrett
    • Henry Gray
    Arlen Stuart
    • Mrs. Gray
    Ric Drasin
    Ric Drasin
    • George
    • (as Richard Drasin)
    Ben
    • Ben
    • (uncredited)
    Bruce Davison
    Bruce Davison
    • Willard Stiles
    • (archive footage)
    • (uncredited)
    Frank Farmer
    Frank Farmer
    • Police Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Phil Karlson
    • Writers
      • Stephen Gilbert
      • Gilbert Ralston
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to a September 1972 Los Angeles Times news item, the rat playing Ben won a PATSY Award, which honors animal performers.
    • Goofs
      Toward the end when the police and firemen attack the rats in the sewers with flamethrowers and the rats fight back, you can see twice when the scene of the flamethrower action is shown in reverse so it appears that the rats are advancing - you can see the flames going back into the flamethrowers.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Danny Garrison: [crying, as Michael Jackson sings "Ben" in the score] You'll get well, Ben, and I'll get well. We'll get well, Ben.

      [places Ben on a handkerchief]

      Danny Garrison: We'll get well, Ben. No one's gonna hurt one of my friends. No, sir.

      [gets out first aid kit, takes a cotton swab and gently rubs Ben's wounds]

      Danny Garrison: It's okay.

      [Ben squeaks]

      Danny Garrison: You're the only friend I have. I love you, Ben.

      [Michael Jackson sings the final verse of "Ben" as the credits roll]

    • Connections
      Edited from Willard (1971)
    • Soundtracks
      Ben's Song
      Lyrics by Don Black

      Music by Walter Scharf

      Sung and played on piano and harmonica by Lee Montgomery (uncredited)

      Sung by Michael Jackson during the final scene and end credits

      © 1972 Motown Record Corp.

    User reviews46

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    "The Two Of Us Need Look No More!"...
    BEN opens with the ending of WILLARD, setting up this film's premise: Not satisfied with the death of his former human friend, Ben sends his sewer-full of villainous vermin out to cause havoc and death for mankind.

    But wait!

    A little boy named Danny (Lee Montgomery), who lives right around the corner from Willard's place, is lonely and needs a friend! He's also got a heart condition and plays the harmonica! So, Ben finds the time between marauding attacks, to be Danny's best buddy. Bully's beware! Picking on the Dan-ster will now get you a visit from the hairy horde of doom!

    Meanwhile, police are flummoxed by a series of rat-involved crimes against humanity. This all leads to an apocalyptic showdown in the sewers beneath Los Angeles!

    While not as intriguing as its predecessor, BEN is a lot of fun to watch! Especially, if you love rats in big numbers! While groan-inducing, the relationship between Ben and Danny is oddly mesmerizing, that is, if you enjoy puppet shows and listening to Danny wheeze.

    Not a bad way to spend one's viewing time, as long as cuddly sewer rats don't offend...
    helpful•6
    1
    • azathothpwiggins
    • May 14, 2019

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 23, 1972 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ben: Canavarlar Yuvası
    • Filming locations
      • Higgins-Verbeck-Hirsch Mansion - 637 South Lucerne Boulevard, Windsor Square, Los Angeles, California, USA(interiors and exteriors of Willard Stiles home)
    • Production company
      • Bing Crosby Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $769,986
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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