Ben (1972 film)
| Ben | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Phil Karlson |
| Produced by | Mort Briskin |
| Written by | Gilbert Ralston |
| Starring |
Lee Montgomery Joseph Campanella Arthur O'Connell Meredith Baxter |
| Music by | Walter Scharf |
| Cinematography | Russell Metty |
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Production
company |
Bing Crosby Productions
(Rysher Entertainment) |
| Distributed by | Cinerama Releasing Corporation |
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Release date
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Running time
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94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Ben is a 1972 American horror film about a young boy and his pet rat, Ben. The film is a sequel to the 1971 film Willard. The theme song, "Ben", is performed by singer Michael Jackson. It was also included on his 1972 album of the same name.
A lonely boy named Danny Garrison befriends Ben, the rat leader of the swarm of rats trained by Willard Stiles. Ben becomes the boy's best friend, protecting him from bullying and keeping his spirits up in the face of a heart condition.
However, things gradually take a downward turn as Ben's swarm becomes violent, resulting in several deaths. Eventually, the police destroy the rat colony with flame throwers, but Ben survives and makes his way back to Danny. The film closes with Danny, tending to the injured Ben, determined not to lose his friend.
The film's theme song "Ben" is performed by Lee Montgomery in the film and by Michael Jackson over the end credits. Michael's recording of the song became a #1 pop hit single. Later included on Michael's album of the same name, "Ben" won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (it lost to "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure).
The song is calm and mellow, which contrasts with the horror content of the film. A live recorded version was released on the 1981 album The Jacksons Live! and eventually appeared on Michael's Number Ones album in 2003.
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