Benji is the name of a fictitious dog who was the focus of several movies in the 1970s and 1980s and is also the title of the first film in the series. His character was a lovable mutt who had an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time, usually helping a person overcome a problem. Perhaps not as dashing as Lassie (another canine screen star), Benji was shown to have been just as smart.
Joe Camp is the creator and director of the Benji films. The first movie, called Benji, was filmed in the Dallas, Texas area and was released in 1974. 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 S. Tennessee (now a bed and breakfast) served as the 'haunted house' in the movie. The most recent Benji movie, Benji: Off the Leash! was released in 2004, and is also known as Benji Returns: Rags to Riches and Benji Returns: The Promise of Christmas.
The real name of the dog who first played Benji was Higgins. Higgins had a role in the TV show Petticoat Junction in the mid 1960s, as did Edgar Buchanan, who also starred in the first movie. Higgins was trained by Frank Inn, who found him in an animal shelter in Burbank, California. The animal was 15 years old at the time of the first film and retired not long afterward. As with Lassie, Higgins' progeny have replaced him in later movies.
A 1980s TV show titled Here's Boomer featured an acting dog that was very like Benji. In 1983, Benji starred in the children's science fiction television series Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince.
Although beloved by children and adults alike, Benji did have a little mean streak. The original dog (Higgins) who played Benji suffered from arthritis and respiratory problems. When not given his shots for pain relief before shooting the dog would become lazy and attack those acting with him. After a year and some months the dog was slowly taken off the drug and then began his retirement.
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Categories: Fictional dogs | Children's film stubs
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