Not a bad flick...I regret that I saw sequels before having seen the original. Benji is a lovable character who hustles everyone in the neighborhood with charm and charisma. Two kids , children of a doctor, want to give him a home there with them, but the doctor has all kinds of phobias against canines and will not hear of it. Benji finds a girlfriend ( no kidding) and shares food and his secret hide-away--a deserted house--with his new acquaintance...until fate steps in and dictates the direction of the action. The kids are victims of a plot and Benji--and his girlfriend--come to the rescue using what measures they can muster. It's really cute, though it gets a little ugly when the bad guys appear...and there seems to be an un-explained flashback of sorts that Benji has regarding an incident with firearms. This, to my thinking, should have been developed a little better to convey to the audience that this was a motivating factor for Benji's actions...and why. But, one can suspend sensibilities if a dog is intelligent enough to convince you that he knows what is going on and has the best interest of people at heart , and that applies in this instance. Besides, since he was a homeless dog, there may have been myriad instances that were unpleasant remembrances...still it is nice when the writers and the directors let us in on what happening by way of full disclosure. But, it's a nice flick, the kids will love it, and adults will too. It's early seventies so that pacing of the film is not quite as frantic as it would become some seven or eight years down the road. See the movie.

Beloved tale of hero "Benji" ("Higgins" the dog) who is many different things to many different people. In his busy day "Benji" grabs breakfast at the house of two young children, has a chat with an officer of the law, chases an old lady's cat and reminds an aging café owner to start on the day's special. Helper to some, amusement to others, he is companion to all.Trouble arises when his young friends are kidnapped and taken to the abandoned mansion that he calls home. From here on we know only "Benji" can save the day.Plot is routine from writer/producer/director Joe Camp, and he does tend to over do the slow motion effects. Audiences though will find it hard to resist the lovable little pooch, and kids of all ages are sure to adore him. Cast were never going to be anything but background to "Benji".Not what you'd call inspired, but fun family fare. Academy Award nominee for "Benji's" theme, "I Feel Love".Saturday, July 13, 1996 - Video

Big Budgets, High Tech Special FX and lot$ of Big Buck$ Ballyhoo in promotions and advertising are elements that we associate with Big Box Office $ucce$$! And it is to some extent that we would heartily concur. It never hurt to have all of these big guns firing full blast when a picture is going into general release. The thought prevailing thought here is that you gotta let'em know yer picher's out dere! Personal appearances or "special guest starring "promotional tours are an extension of all this. Thus, the Producer, Director, Star or other Actors involved are sent out on a tour; making the rounds of the old usual circuit of "Plugola". They get booked, along with a Clip from their film to be on Letterman, Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Today Show, Good Morning America, Regis, The View, etc., etc..But investing all the above and then some, will not guarantee even a modest success. A good case in point is the Triple Strength and Elongated spot granted on ABC Television's GOOD MORNING America to plug the current Left Wing Propaganda film, LIONS FOR LAMBS.GMA Hostess, Diane Sawyer devoted an at least a double segment to its promotion. The piece featured Stars Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Star/Producer/Director Robert Redford. The usual questions and mandatory clips were strongly in evidence; but Miss Sawyer added in a heavy dose of syrupy small talk and giggles to season the whole thing. And even with this extended mutual admiration society and personally oriented "Gigglefest' , with plenty of voice-over laughter and schmoozy banter by Hostess Sawyer, this the greatest film since CITIZEN KANE, is bombing big time at the one place where all the B.S. in the World cannot help, at the Box-Office!* In direct contrast, we have some rather small, sort of non-descript films can barely get released; but somehow do. Then, because they do have something to offer the Public, they take off like a snowball rolling down a steep slope, getting more and more speed and power as it goes. All of this because of having a story that has something for Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Citizen. As for examples over the years we have examples such as: AIRPLANE!(1980), MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING (2002) and even American GRAFFITI (1973).So this brings us to Today's Lucky subject, namely Independent Writer/Producer/Director Joe Camp's BENJI (1974). Mr. Camp took a good, veteran cast of players and building around it with some largely unknown players, like Cynthia Smith and Allen Fiuzat, the Kids in the story. The adults in the film are mostly well known to the public from their previously done work, mostly in front of TV Cameras. The cast included Peter Breck, Frances Bavier, Patsy Garrett and Edgan Buchanan.There was one more veteran player and he was "Higgins" the mongrel pup who had been featured on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION" (1963-70). He was one happily retired pooch when Owner/Trainer/Wrangler, Mr. Frank Inn brought him in for an audition. So here he was! Higgins was a bigger Star than ever before.Director Camp went through painstaking steps to tell so much of the story from the "Dog's Eye View." The methods applied were akin to that applied in the Days of Silent Pictures. The Story was very visual and would have suffered with too-much of a script, especially if poor little Benji had too many lines to memorize and deliver.It has been said that "……Children and Dogs bring People together." and a Movie like this sure stands as testimony to the veracity of this old proverb.When you watch it, have your Kids or Grand Kids with you. And try to see it as if though their eyes.

Good one. It has a few funny scenes. Most of the actors except for Ms.Bavier are obscure. THe filmography is good. It is clearly evident that the film is shot somewhere in the southern Uninted states. I wish that there would be more films like this one out today instead of what Hollywod is putting out now. I did not hear any foul words in it. Now Hollywood has to put a few foul words in every film. I was thinking about that movie recently and finally rented it 2 months ago. I would recommend this to anybody especially if they like dogs and other animals. The only draw back is toward the end there is one simi-violent scene.