Benji's Very Own Christmas Story

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story
Directed by Joe Camp
Produced by Ben Vaughn
Written by Joe Camp
Dan Witt
Starring Benji
Ron Moody
Patsy Garrett
Cynthia Smith
Music by Euel Box
Distributed by Mulberry Square
Release date(s) 7 December 1978
Running time 25 min.
Language English

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story is the third film featuring Benji the dog which was released in 1978. It was originally a primetime TV special on ABC and is one of two such Benji specials to have been nominated for an Emmy Award.[1] It was also nominated in two categories in the 1980 Young Artist Awards.

Contents

Plot

The actors from the Benji films are on a promotional tour in Switzerland and are asked to be grand marshalls of a Christmas parade in Zermatt. Due to a broken leg Kris Kringle is sending his elves out to deliver presents, and as this will force them to miss the parade he wants them to meet Benji first. With help from the Benji actors, Kringle realises the true meaning of Christmas and performs a musical number showing how Saint Nicholas appears all over the world.

Cast and crew

Directed by Joe Camp.

Actors: Benji/Benjean (daughter of original Benji dog Higgins) as Benji, Patsy Garrett, Cynthia Smith and Academy Award nominated English actor Ron Moody as Kris Kringle.

Nominations and Awards

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1979 for Outstanding Children's Program along with A Special Sesame Street Christmas and Once Upon A Classic with Christmas Eve on Sesame Street being the eventual winner.[2]

Actress Cynthia Smith was nominated for a Young Artist Award in 1980 for her performance. The other nominations in her category were Patsy Kensit for Hanover Street, Brooke Shields for Just You and Me, Kid, Mariel Hemingway for Manhattan and Trini Alvarado for Rich Kids. The winner was Diane Lane for A Little Romance.[3] The film was also nominated in the category of Best TV Series or Special Featuring Youth. Also nominated in the same category were The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Diff'rent Strokes with the eventual winner being Eight is Enough.[3]

References

External links