Benji
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Benji

Year:
Duration:
86 min
Genres:
Adventure | Family | Romance
IMDB rate:
6
Director:
Joe Camp
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1974-10-17
Filming Locations: Denton, Texas, USA
Earnings
Budget: $500,000
Gross: $39,552,600 (USA) Related Links
Cast
Actor
Character
Patsy Garrett
Mary
Allen Fiuzat
Paul
Cynthia Smith
Cindy
Peter Breck
Dr. Chapman
Terry Carter
Officer Tuttle
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
Katie Hearne
Mrs. Harvey
Don Puckett
Plainclothesman
Ed DeLatte
Bob Fielding
Victor Raider-Wexler
Payton Murrah
Charles Starkey
Custodian
Ben Vaughn
Man
Joe Camp III
Newspaper Boy (as Joey Camp)
Vicki Vanston
Two Girls
Jacqueline Ann Smith
Two Girls
Bill King
Groundskeeper
Robert Thomas
Second Custodian
Rene Marrou
Biff Painter
Higgins the Dog
Benji
January L'Angelle
Student (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
Final film of Frances Bavier.
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Director Joe Camp made this film in response to the overabundance of low-quality family films released through the "four wall distribution" concept. ("Four-walling" is a sort-of self-distribution process where a filmmaker and/or distributor rents a theater to show their films, and receive all box-office revenues.) In an interview with "Variety Magazine" in 1977, Camp said, "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 was concerned that "four-wall fast-buck distributors" had oversaturated the market for G-rated films, so in response to the low quality of these films, he created "Benji."
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Higgins the Dog played the "dog" for the seven year run of the TV series Petticoat Junction (1963) (which also starred Edgar Buchanan). "Benji" was his last acting role. His urn is inside the casket of his trainer, Frank Inn. In the sequel films, Benji was played by Benjean, the original Benji's daughter.
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Goofs
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.
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The opening scene shows Cindy missing her two front teeth. The second scene, representing the next morning, shows her teeth full grown. Later in the movie, they are at different stages of partial-growth.
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When Benji first enters the children's home on his own at the beginning of the film, a very obvious man in a white collared shirt opens the door.
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Quotes
Riley: [Trying to solve the mystery of the disappearing pudding cups, Riley leaves an open container out] I'm leaving it right here. On purpose.
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Mary: [to Benji] One of these days I'm going to follow you to see just where you go.
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Mary: [to Benji] You have more independence than most people, and more charm.
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Photos from cast
Frances Bavier Edgar Buchanan
rainbow dragon puff the magic dragon cute dragon on a leash cartoon fire breathing dragon