Benji (1974 film)
| Benji | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joe Camp |
| Produced by | Joe Camp |
| Written by | Joe Camp |
| Starring |
Higgins Patsy Garrett Cynthia Smith Allen Fiuzat Peter Breck |
| Music by | Euel Box |
| Cinematography | Don Reddy |
| Editing by | Leon Seith |
| Distributed by | Mulberry Square Releasing |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $500,000 |
| Box office | $45,000,000[1] |
Benji is the first film in a series of nine about the golden mixed breed dog named Benji. It was written and directed by Joe Camp and filmed in and around Denton, Texas. Released in 1974, it was a critical and box office smash, grossing $45 million on a tight budget of $500,000. The film also received an Academy Award nomination for the Best Original Song for the theme song "I Feel Love," by Euel Box.
Plot
Benji is a lovable stray dog who lives in a small Texas town where he has befriended many local people, each of whom calls him by a different name. He gets plenty of food and attention whenever he visits with one of his acquaintances. He meets another stray dog, a diminutive white female with long fluffy hair, and the two dogs form a bond. Two children whom Benji loves are kidnapped and held for ransom, the dogs try to help, and Benji seeks out friendly people to assist him in freeing the children.
Theme song
The movie's theme song, "I Feel Love (Benji theme)", recorded by the country music star Charlie Rich, won a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song in 1975.[1]
Production
Benji was filmed near Dallas, Texas. The park scenes, as well as the municipal building, were filmed in Denton, Texas.
The outdoor scenes were filmed primarily in McKinney, Texas and the house located at 1104 South Tennessee (now a bed and breakfast inn), Dowell House, served as the "haunted house" where the children were being held hostage.
The film, and the ensuing franchise, was created after Joe Camp expressed concern over the overabundance of family films released through the four wall distribution concept. He told Variety magazine in 1977: "It has become an industry-caused thing, but the G rated classification has to some degree become 'if it's G, it can't be for me'." Camp observed that four-wall companies had saturated the market for G-rated product; in response to the lowered-down quality of their films, he created Benji.[2]
Reception
Benji has garnered both critical acclaim and box office success. Produced on a tight budget of only $500,000, it grossed $39,552,000 in the United States,[3] making it the ninth highest grossing film of 1974. The film grossed a total of $45 million in worldwide receipts.[1] The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, earning an 86% "Fresh" rating on the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.[4]
Cast
- Higgins - Benji
- Patsy Garrett - Mary
- Cynthia Smith - Cindy Chapman
- Allen Fiuzat - Paul Chapman
- Peter Breck - Dr. Chapman
- Christopher Connelly - Henry
- Tom Lester - Riley
- Mark Slade - Mitch
- Deborah Walley - Linda
- Herb Vigran - Lt. Samuels
- Frances Bavier - Lady with Cat
- Edgar Buchanan - Bill
- Terry Carter - Officer Tuttle
- Larry Swartz - Floyd
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Benji". TCM.
- ↑ Holmlund, Chris; Wyatt, Justin, eds. (2005). "1970s distribution and marketing strategies". Contemporary American Independent Film: From the Margins to the Mainstream. Psychology Press. pp. 238–239. ISBN 0-415-25486-8. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
- ↑ "Box Office Information for Benji". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Benji, Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
External links
- Benji at the Internet Movie Database
- Benji at the TCM Movie Database
- Benji at allmovie
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