McKinney unveils Benji statue to honor movie’s anniversary

MCKINNEY, Texas — From administrators to actors to producers, there’s a whole lot of cinema weaved into North Texas historical past.

While there are many folks price mentioning, there is a well-known, four-legged pup who has a particular connection to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

And on Sunday, the city that helped put that canine on the map nationally honored him and the individuals who helped turned him right into a film star.

In 1960, well-known animal coach Frank Inn got here throughout a bit of canine in a California animal shelter known as “Higgins.” While it is not identified precisely what breed Higgins was, many consider him to be some form of a mix involving Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Poodle and Schnauzer.

Higgins rapidly turned a well-trained, sensible canine on the display screen, ultimately incomes a task within the well-liked Nineteen Sixties and Seventies tv sequence, “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Higgins received quite a few awards, together with a Picture Animal Top Star of the Year (PATSY) Award in 1966 for the tv class. 

Inn talked about Higgins as one of many smartest canines he had ever labored with in lots of interviews and praised him for his versatility when it comes to his methods.

Eventually, within the Seventies, Higgins moved to the film display screen and took on the long-lasting position of Benji for the 1974 film “Benji.”

The authentic “Benji” film was written, produced and directed by Joe Camp. He had a funds of $500,000 for the movie whereas additionally having each Hollywood studio flip it down.

So, Camp fashioned his personal movie firm. And he selected McKinney, Texas, as the primary taking pictures location for the film. There had been different scenes shot in Denton in addition to Dallas.

“We lived there basically for several months,” Camp mentioned, talking of McKinney.

Camp mentioned the primary home he selected for Benji’s dwelling that you simply see within the movie regarded precisely prefer it did when he first drove by it.

While Camp initially had a unique imaginative and prescient for what the home must be, he mentioned his spouse knew immediately it was the appropriate selection.

Camp additionally mentioned whereas the folks have modified after 5 a long time since filming it, the town of McKinney has a particular appear and feel to it that gave “Benji” the environment he was on the lookout for.

“Character has been there for 50 years,” Camp mentioned.

The film went on to gross $45 million on the field workplace and have become a household basic for generations to come. The movie’s theme track, “I Feel Love” by Charlie Rich was additionally nominated for Best Original Song.

“We say that nobody has ever done a movie like this because it’s from the dog’s point of view,” Camp mentioned.

To have fun Benji’s upcoming 50-year anniversary from the yr it was launched in 1974, the town of McKinney organized a parade on Sunday that featured a whole lot of canines honoring Benji.

Afterward, metropolis leaders unveiled a sculpture of Benji at Mitchell Park close to the downtown space of McKinney.

McKinney employed acclaimed New Mexico artist Susan Norris to make the statue as she is somebody who focuses on and loves creating art work revolving round animals.

“I’ve always been artistically inclined since I could remember,” Norris mentioned. “I was an only child so I spent a lot of time by myself. I would draw on napkins. Draw on the back of the paper. Placemats.”

Today, Norris mentioned she will get a whole lot of her work by way of phrase of mouth at any time when there are massive animal initiatives.

She has taken on jobs reminiscent of making a waving bear that was commissioned by Baylor University for annual Distinguished Alumni awards and making a life-size army service canine in 4 completely different areas, together with Dallas.

“To me, they’re all just as important as far as getting the personality,” Norris mentioned, talking to artwork involving animals in contrast to people.

While Norris first watched “Benji” when she was youthful, she mentioned she rewatched the film a number of occasions to get a greater grasp of the canine’s character. She began engaged on the challenge in July of 2022 to get in prepared in time for the February 2023 celebration.

“Getting gestures, getting poses and seeing how that dog behaved,” Norris mentioned.

Norris mentioned the toughest however most satisfying a part of placing collectively any kind of artwork involving animals is determining what to do with the eyes.

“To get the face and the expression, you want it to say something,” Norris mentioned. “The eyes are the most important part because that’s the expression.”

Camp mentioned as soon as he talked with Norris and noticed the opposite work she had finished associated to animals, he primarily stayed out of her hair and let her get to work on the statue.

“I think it turned out great,” Camp mentioned.

“She has managed to incorporate the stuff in that thing that makes that dog come alive, really,” Camp mentioned. “It gives you some of the emotion of what Benji is about. It’s super.”

While Norris considers Benji the canine an “American icon,” she additionally mentioned she hopes her statue cannot solely carry some nostalgia to those that know of the film but in addition encourage youthful individuals who would possibly stroll by the statue to try the movie for the primary time

“I’m very honored that I ws the artist chosen to do it,” Norris mentioned.