Although well-known as a jazz musician and as an occasional broadcaster, music journalist and lyric writer, Benny Green was not known for having much interest in the cinema, so it was a surprise when, in late 1972, he was made film critic of the prestigious British humor magazine, "Punch". He replaced Richard Mallett, one of Britain's most eminent critics, who had held this post for over 30 years. Mallett, who had a passionate love of films, had not expected to be dismissed and was greatly upset - so much so that when he died, only a few weeks later, in a street accident, a rumor went around that he had committed suicide. (There is, however, no evidence to suggest that this was the case). His admirers were angered by Green's columns in the magazine, which clearly revealed, not only his indifference to the cinema, but how little he knew about it. He left the job before the end of the decade.
