Christian the Lion
(aka THE LION AT WORLD'S END,
With: Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, George Adamson, Terence Adamson, Anthony Bourke, John Rendall, James Hill
Plot Outline: Famous lion handlers Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna bring some lions to Africa in an attempt to create a new pride.
***
CHRISTIAN THE LION is an odd duck, surely, but not without interest. After a inexplicable opening with mysterious sexual overtones and two very gay young men, we venture forth on what is essentially a recreated documentary about Travers & McKenna, who appear only briefly in this, their second sequel to the phenomenally popular wildlife film, BORN FREE.
Here, we trace the (supposedly true) continuing adventures of Boy, Christian and Katania, as well as newcomers including Mona and Lisa, as they try to create a new pride amidst wild lion packs in deepest, darkest Africa.
The landscape is stunning, and the lions' antics are charming, but
there's not much plot to latch onto here. In fact, the only high points are the traumatic tragedies which occur: Little girl Katania is eaten by crocodiles; Boy (the star of the original Born Free) is attacked by wild lions and almost dies; later, Boy goes nuts, attacks a handler and is shot to death.
These scenes are both shocking and unbearably sad, and makes the film quite a downer, definitely not light Kiddie Matinee fare. The continual fade-outs make one think this may have been originally created for British Television.
Regardless, CHRISTIAN THE LION has some magnificent wildlife footage, making it well worth a glance for big cat lovers. There's also a very nice, mellow, new-age musical score by Pentangle.
Video/DVD availability: VHS (Born Free Foundation)
THE LION THAT THOUGHT HE WAS PEOPLE)
(1977, U.K.) color 87 minutes
Scotia American
Story: Anthony Bourke, John Rendall (based on their book "A Lion Called Christian")
Screenplay: James Hill, Bill Travers
Cinematography: Simon Trevor
Music: Pentangle
Produced by James Hill, Bill Travers
Directed by Bill Travers, James Hill