Main Cast: Lee Montgomery, Joseph Campanella, Arthur O'Connell, Rosemary Murphy
Release Year: 1972
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
This sequel to the rampaging-rodent chiller Willard stars Lee H. Montgomery as young Danny Garrison, a neglected kid who finds a new little friend in Ben -- an intelligent rat whose furry minions managed to slaughter most of the cast of the previous film. Proving that one can't teach an old rat new tricks -- just variations on the old ones -- Ben displays his affection for Danny by directing his posse to off anyone who torments him... in the sweetest possible way, of course, since this is a PG-rated endeavor. This film's reputation was secured primarily by the inclusion of Michael Jackson's saccharine title tune, which seems to resonate more profoundly when regarded as a love song for a big greasy rat. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
Rolland M. Brooks - Art Director, Ray Harp - Costume Designer, Mina Mittleman - Costume Designer, Floyd Joyer - First Assistant Director, Phil Karlson - Director, Harry Gerstad - Editor, Walter Scharf - Composer (Music Score), Russell Metty - Cinematographer, Bing Crosby - Producer, Mort Briskin - Producer, Charles A. Pratt - Producer, Joel Briskin - Producer, Gilbert A. Ralston - Screenwriter, Moe DiSesso - Animal Trainer/Wrangler
Ben is a 1972film about a young boy (played by Lee H. Montgomery) and his pet rat, Ben. This film is a sequel to the 1971 film Willard. The movie is known for its sentimental theme song, sung by a young Michael Jackson.
Tagline: Where Willard Ended... Ben Begins. And This Time He's Not Alone!
A lonely boy befriends the rat that leads the swarm of trained/telepathic rats found in Willard. This rat, whom the boy names Ben, becomes the boy's best friend and keeps his spirits up in the face of bullying. However, the balance of power between the human and rat begins to shift, with Ben beginning to control the boy and the swarm becoming increasingly irrational and violent. Ben became violent when the town folks used pesticide and killed his partner Reyeliza. Eventually, the police destroy many members of the rat colony, while others are sent to testing labs; Ben, however, survives. The film closes with the boy, determined not to lose his friend, tending to a badly injured Ben.
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