Leofwine_draca I watched this under the title THE LION WHO THOUGHT HE WAS PEOPLE. It's a follow-up to BORN FREE in which that film's adopted lion cub Boy makes an appearance, although the main focus is on a new lion, Christian, purchased by a couple of Australians who are eager to see him released back into the wild in Kenya.This story features the great Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna as they travel to Africa and hook up with the indefatiguable George Adamson. As with the previous 'nature' films featuring these stars, some of it is staged but most of it plays out as a documentary. It's authentic and gripping, and what I particularly liked here is that the story is darker than BORN FREE, with death and destruction featuring predominantly. As such, it's even more moving. That, I think, gives it the edge overall.

gilligan1965 As with many documentaries, this has its ups-and-downs, and, overall it's a great movie; but, with the tragedy that sometimes comes with being a wildlife caregiver.John Rendall and Anthony "Ace" Bourke are two of the kindest and caring animal lovers there ever were. Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna are exactly the same, which goes without saying if you're familiar with the wonderful movies they made together - "Ring of Bright Water;" "Born Free;" "An Elephant Called Slowly;" etc.Collectively, these four people, along with George Adamson and his assistants in Kora, Kenya, probably did more for one lion than any given 1,000 people did for a great number of animals. These people went way above and beyond.In 1969, 'Christian the Lion Cub' was bought at Herrods in London for £250 (250 Pounds = 3,000 Pounds/$4294.00 today) by John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace" Bourke and kept as a pet at their store until it became obvious that he's 'outgrowing the streets and parks of London.' With the help of Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna; and, their lion caregiver friend in Kenya, George Adamson; the owners decided to bring Christian to a lion sanctuary where he could eventually live out his life in the wild.I was REALLY impressed by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna...not only coming to the rescue, but, also, building and rebuilding a temporary enclosure for the lion on their 'own property' while all the red-tape was sorted out with the Kenyan government for the lion's relocation.This movie, like the documentary "The Lion Cub From Herrods" (2009), is a charmer and a tear-dropper. All of these beautiful people are doing what they were meant to do and what they feel is needed to do, but, most of all...what is the right thing to do.This is a 'must-see' movie for anyone who loves animal care and those who've dedicated themselves to it.In my opinion, the music in this movie is beautiful.As I wrote above, SADLY, "As with all documentaries, this has its ups-and-downs."RIP - Bill Travers (British SAS Army Major; MBE - Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; devout animal lover and caregiver); George Adamson (The 'Baba ya Simba,' "Father of Lions" in Swahili, British wildlife conservationist and author; murdered by poachers); 'Stanley' (Adamson's assistant killed by 'Boy'); 'Katania' (lioness cub - presumed killed by a crocodile); 'Boy' (alpha male lion shot by George Adamson trying to save his assistant, Stanley)...and, Joy Adamson, writer of "Born Free" and wife of George Adamson (murdered by a discharged former employee by stabbing).

Wizard-8 I think many viewers who watch this documentary today will be a lot more sophisticated than viewers who first saw this back in the 1970s. They will see that some scenes in the movie are staged or heavily manipulated. Also, viewers who are largely or completely unfamiliar with real life figure George Adamson or the movie "Born Free" will be bewildered by some parts of the movie. Speaking of Adamson, the movie disappoints by only giving him one (brief) moment in the movie where he gets to tell viewers from his own perspective. Despite these and other problems, the documentary is compelling. Although leisurely paced, the movie never gets to the point of being boring. The process of returning lions to the wild is well illustrated, showing it's long and hard work. More importantly, the documentary manages to convince the audience that animals like Christian the lion are animals that belong in the wild, and should not be domesticated. I also liked that the movie doesn't sugar coat things, revealing several tragedies that happened during filming. Younger children might be upset or confused by those passages, so if your child is somewhat sensitive, you may want to watch it with your child.

kimbawlion This movie is a companion to the 1972 book 'A Lion Called Christian' by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall. Note that the authors are also listed as "stars" of the film. The film is a documentary produced to finance the project of sending Christian from London to the wilds of east Africa. With the exception of the dramatized opening scene of Christian being introduced to Bill Travers, it was filmed as it happened and its simple, honest style is very effective.Writing as one who is interested in lions and in human/animal interactions, the film is a joy to behold in spite of (or more likely because of) its lack of sophisticated production values. Everything is real, and there is much to observe.George Adamson features prominently in the latter portion of the movie. Adamson is the real person Travers portrayed in the movie Born Free, and his interaction with many lions during the course of the project is simply amazing.Christian himself is a most amazing fellow and the reason this film is more than just another documentary. I came away from it feeling that it was actually a shame that Christian had been sent away from the city to be "rehabilitated" to live in the wild. In these times, when the world needs more and better contact between humans and animals, Christian would have been a perfect ambassador of goodwill. Watch him carefully. Notice the love and intelligence behind his actions.This "little" film has a great deal of lasting value. Perhaps Christian can still be that ambassador in some small way... if anyone gets a chance to see this film.