Benji

1974 1h 26m EN

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 174

AdventureFamilyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Benji is a stray who has nonetheless worked his way into the hearts of a number of the townspeople, who give him food and attention whenever he stops by. His particular favorites are a pair of children who feed and play with him against the wishes of their parents. When the children are kidnapped, however, the parents and the police are at a loss to find them. Only Benji can track them down, but will he be in time? If he can save the day, he may just find the permanent home he's been longing for.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Patsy Garrett
Mary Gruber
Allen Fiuzat
Paul Chapman Jr.
Cynthia Smith
Cindy Chapman
Peter Breck
Dr. Paul M. Chapman
Frances Bavier
Lady with the Cat
Terry Carter
Officer Tuttle
Edgar Buchanan
Bill
Tom Lester
Riley

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Joe Camp
Writers: Joe Camp
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

52 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Benji Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Joe Camp, shot by Don Reddy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Euel Box. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Patsy Garrett and Allen Fiuzat and Cynthia Smith carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0071206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Joe Camp directs. Don Reddy behind the camera. Euel Box scores. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
252 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Part of the "The Benji Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Joe Camp, shot by Don Reddy. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Euel Box. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Patsy Garrett and Allen Fiuzat and Cynthia Smith carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0071206 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Don Reddy
Original score: Euel Box
Runtime: 86 min · 1h 26m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: Benji (1974)

Part of

The Benji Collection

Benji is the name of a dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the Benji franchise. The eponymous canine character is a small, lovable mixed-breed dog with an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually to help someone overcome a problem. Joe Camp is the creator and director of the Benji films. The first dog to play Benji was a shelter dog named Higgins, trained by Frank Inn. Later, Higgins' offspring Benjean took over the role for a few films.