Ben *** (1972, Lee Montgomery, Joseph Campanella, Arthur O’Connell) – Classic Movie Review 9127

Director Phil Karlson’s horror thriller Ben (1972) is the bloody but not too terrible horror sequel to Willard which, by sticking close to the original 1971 film story, can just about please those who enjoyed Bruce Davison’s killer rat Ben.

This time a creepy, lonely young lad called Danny Garrison (Lee Montgomery) makes a pet of Ben, trained by Willard Stiles, and it starts up a huge gang of rats that go on the rampage. Given the schlocky circumstances, there is decent acting and solid writing (by Gilbert A Ralston, the same hand as in 1971), though Davison is much missed.

Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five sing the Oscar-nominated title song, Ben’s Song, by Walter Scharf (music) and Don Black (lyrics), reused in the 2003 remake of Willard with Crispin Glover. It won the 1973 Golden Globe for Best Original Song – Motion Picture.

Also in the cast are Arthur O’Connell, Rosemary Murphy, Meredith Baxter, Kaz Garas, Paul Carr, Kenneth Tobey, James Luisi, Norman Alden, Scott Garrett, Joseph Campanella, Richard Van Vleet, Lee Paul, Arlen Stuart and Ric Drasin.

My how times change! It was originally an X and it is now a PG.

A double feature paired Willard and Ben.

Moe Di Sesso, who trained 500 rats for Willard (1971), trained 4,000 rats for Ben.

It is made, rather surprisingly, by Bing Crosby Productions.

Ben is directed by Phil Karlson, runs 94 minutes, is made by Bing Crosby Productions, is released by Cinerama, is written by Gilbert A Ralston, is shot by Russell Metty, is produced by Charles A Pratt (executive producer), Mort Briskin (producer), Joel Briskin (associate producer) and Bing Crosby, is scored by Walter Scharf and is designed by Rolland M Brooks.

A planned third movie with 10,000 rats was never made.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9127

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