Sunday, January 31st, 2010...1:16 pm
I feel love…for Benji
We had a big introduction today at Let the Dog in! I introduced the Kid to Benji, the original movie (1974).
Naturally, she didn’t love it as much as her mom. Next time I want her to love a movie I love, I’m gonna have to forbid her from watching it at all.
And her dad, well, geez, all I can say is, he grew up in Alaska. He’d never even seen Benji that’s how deprived he was. Although he was happy to see Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction in this. (Did you know Benji was the dog in Petticoat Junction?)
But, you, dear readers reader mother, you loved Benji. And not just because we’re from Texas, lived near where they shot the film and might have even remotely known the producer or his offspring.
Remember the opening song where Benji’s head appears at the old broken window and then he trots off on his route? What a face.
Remember singer Charlie Rich? Yes, he sang Behind Closed Doors (how was racy that?!), but he also sang the Benji song, an Oscar nominee and a Golden Globe winner. This movie has a great, leisurely (by today’s standards) pace set off by that song.
And best of all: BENJI DOES NOT TALK.
Get this, he barks. He does the head tilt. He does the beggy face. He is dog extraordinaire.
You can go here to see the opening sequence of the film with the song, I Feel Love. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you can instant stream the entire movie.
Did you know writer/producer/director Joe Camp was rejected by all the majors and had to distribute Benji through his company? Did you know it went on to gross revenues in the top 10% of all movies in 1974 and to be loved worldwide? Let that be a lesson to us all.
And the lesson? Doggedness prevails!
Woof!
8 Comments
January 31st, 2010 at 5:08 pm
I LOVE Benji! Grew up with that cute little rascally dog. I thought the movies were awesome – a perfect mix of adventure and intrigue and suspense and sweetness. So of course, I bought the box set to share the joy with my kids.
They can barely make it through a whole movie. “This is so booooring! Those aren’t really bad guys. This music is sooooo lame!”
Sigh.
Brooke´s last blog ..Linguini Carbonara
January 31st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
oh brooke! we’ll have to a “moms only” Benji night! (how sad is that?!)
January 31st, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Driving by Benji’s old house always reminds me of that wonderful pup and the movies that we all loved. It’s sad that today’s kids are needing constant action & graphics in videos, movies, games, and aren’t appreciating the natural sentiment in films of the past. Excitement appears to be the most targeted feeling for so many kids’ films these days.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Ohhh! I love Benji too!
February 1st, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Benji rocks and don’t let those hooligans diminish your fond memories one little bit.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
yeah, these young whippersnappers just can’t appreciate real art!
February 8th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
That face makes me smile. (You should introduce the kid to the original Flipper.)
February 8th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Just looked at the link. Thanks for making me cry at work! (And, just visited my netflix queue….)
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