For the Love of Benji

For the Love of Benji is a 1977 American comedy-drama film and sequel to the 1974 film "Benji" (starring Benji the Dog) which was directed & written by Joe Camp.

Plot
The Chapman kids: Paul and Cindy along with their housekeeper, Mary take a vacation to Athens, Greece with Benji and Tiffany joining them.

While in Athens, Benji becomes lost trying to reunite with Mary & the kids while secret agents pursue him, seeking a formula which was glued to his paw in order to get it past customs. He hides in the ruins of the Acropolis, where he is befriended by another stray dog.

In the narrow streets of an old Greek neighborhood, Benji is pursued by Chandler, a criminal who (with the help of a vicious Doberman Pinscher-) abducts Benji in order to seize the formula., but Benji manages to escape his clutches and flees back to the Chapmans' hotel.

Benji is then shocked to see Chandler parked in front of the hotel, holding Cindy hostage in his car at gunpoint. He dashes forward toward the car and lunges at Chandler's hand that is holding the gun and bites it, causing Chandler to let go of the gun.

In the end, Cindy is rescued and Chandler is arrested by police at gunpoint.

Cast

 * Benjean as Benji
 * Patsy Garrett as Mary
 * Cynthia Smith as Cindy Chapman
 * Allen Fiuzat as Paul Chapman
 * Ed Nelson as Chandler Dietrich
 * Peter Bowles as Ronald
 * Art Vasil as Stelios
 * Bridget Armstrong as Elizabeth

Production
The movie was filmed in New York City, New York and Athens, Greece.

According to Peter Bowles' memoirs, actress Bridget Armstong was only cast because the original actress was fired due to her objection to the animal trainer methods.

In the sequel, Benjean (the daughter of Higgins, who portrayed the original Benji) filled in for the title role, making it the first of several “Benji” movies to star her.

Box Office
“For the Love of Benji” grossed $17,732,000 domestically.