One might not think that a mere pooch could match the thespian skills of a Pacino, a McQueen, or even a Slim Pickens. But while The Godfather, The Towering Inferno and Blazing Saddles all did respectable business at the box office in 1974, a scruffy mutt, an underdog as it were, managed to hold his own and delight plenty of moviegoers in the family favorite, Benji.

Benji is a sad-eyed, street-smart little terrier who is rescued from his current residence, an abandoned house, by a young brother and sister. They impart on their puppy pet a few valuable lessons about love and acceptance and, when they are later kidnapped, it is Benji’s turn to demonstrate his loyalty and unconditional love and save his cherished keepers.

And if animals were eligible for an Academy Award, a furry actor named Higgens might proudly display a four-legged Oscar on a mantle within his doghouse. He played the canine character with remarkable depth and dimension for a mere doggy, proving that a pup could give a performance on par with a person. Benji won the hearts of millions with his friendly disposition, canine courage, and the ability to tug at the heartstrings of moviegoers as if they were a rubber chew toy. Eat your heart out, Pacino.