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IMDbPro

Born Free

  • 19661966
  • PGPG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
Born Free (1966)
This wondrous true adventure from the best-selling novel about a woman who raised a lioness and eventually set her free is beautifully photographed on the vast, golden savannas of central Africa. 

When game warden George Adamson (Bill Travers) is forced to kill a menacing lion and lioness, he and his wife Joy (Virginia McKenna) adopt their three cubs. Two are sent off to zoos, but the third is kept - a female they name Elsa - to which they have become particularly attached. When Elsa becomes a full grown lioness, the Adamsons realise that she must be set free and taught to survive on her own. A year later the Adamsons return to the savanna and are surprised by a very special welcome from their old friend.

Highly acclaimed for its cinematography and music, Born Free is a story of courage and love, nature, and a relationship unlike any other ever filmed. Eureka Entertainment is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, in a special Dual-Format edition.
Play trailer1:34
2 Videos
24 Photos
AdventureBiographyDrama
The story of George and Joy Adamson and the orphaned lion cub, Elsa, they adopt.The story of George and Joy Adamson and the orphaned lion cub, Elsa, they adopt.The story of George and Joy Adamson and the orphaned lion cub, Elsa, they adopt.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
    • James Hill
    • Tom McGowan(uncredited)
    • Joy Adamson(book)
    • Lester Cole(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Virginia McKenna
    • Bill Travers
    • Geoffrey Keen
    • James Hill
    • Tom McGowan(uncredited)
    • Joy Adamson(book)
    • Lester Cole(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Virginia McKenna
    • Bill Travers
    • Geoffrey Keen
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars

    Videos2

    BORN FREE (New and Exclusive) UK Trailer
    Trailer 1:34
    Watch BORN FREE (New and Exclusive) UK Trailer
    Born Free
    Clip 2:04
    Watch Born Free

    Photos24

    Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers in Born Free (1966)
    "Born Free," Virginia McKenna with Lioness 1966 / Columbia
    "Born Free," Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers with lion cubs.  1966 / Columbia
    Joy Adamson and Susan Hampshire in Born Free (1966)
    "Born Free," Virginia McKenna 1966 / Columbia
    Joy Adamson and Susan Hampshire at an event for Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)
    Born Free (1966)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Virginia McKenna
    Virginia McKenna
    • Joy Adamson
    Bill Travers
    Bill Travers
    • George Adamson
    Geoffrey Keen
    Geoffrey Keen
    • Kendall
    Peter Lukoye
    • Nuru
    Omar Chambati
    • Makkede
    Bill Godden
    • Sam
    Bryan Epsom
    • Baker
    Robert Cheetham
    • Ken
    Robert S. Young
    • James
    • (as Robert Young)
    Geoffrey Best
    • Watson
    Surya Patel
    • Doctor
    Elsa
    • Lion Cub
    • (uncredited)
    • …
    Pati
    • Rock Hyrax
    • (uncredited)
      • James Hill
      • Tom McGowan(uncredited)
      • Joy Adamson(book)
      • Lester Cole(screenplay) (originally as Gerald L.C. Copley)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Elsa's grave is located in Meru National Park, Kenya.
    • Goofs
      When Elsa is playing with and chasing the elephant herd, she is not wearing her collar. But in the next scene when she returns with an elephant calf, she is wearing her collar.
    • Quotes

      Joy Adamson: Elsa, Elsa

      [Joy cries sitting out on the hood of the truck as they ride in search of the young lioness]

      George Adamson: Let's try this.

      [2 shots ring out from his gun. George sees Elsa stumbling through the grass, approaching their vehicle]

      Joy Adamson: all my nightmares had come true.

      [Now Elsa rests in their tent as they argue over her]

      George Adamson: ...she can't make it. she can't think. she can't mix with her own kind... She can't do anything the wild animals do to survive. You've done too good a job on her. You've made her tame. It's too late to try to let her go wild now. All we're doing is making her miserable, torturing her. How could you be so cruel?

      Joy Adamson: You keep quiet George.

      George Adamson: I don't know what goes on in that head of yours anymore... What's wrong with a zoo, anyway?

      Joy Adamson: nothing. Except that she won't be free.

      George Adamson: and Is freedom so important?

      Joy Adamson: yes, yes, she was born free and she has the right to live free. Why don't we live in a more comfortable setting George? Other people do. We chose to live out here cause it represents freedom for us. Because we can breathe.

      George Adamson: Joy, tell me the truth. You just don't want to give her up. What you're really hoping is that she can stay out here, wild, but not too wild. That you can see her every now and then.

      Joy Adamson: it's not the whole truth. But I don't deny I'd like it.

      George Adamson: it's impossible. It cannot happen.

      Joy Adamson: ...at least she would be free. At least she wouldn't be in a cage for the rest of her life.

      George Adamson: even if she gets herself killed in the process.

      Joy Adamson: [stroking Elsa's leg] I'd never forgive myself I suppose.

      [Joy narrates]

      Joy Adamson: although at one time we were afraid she'd die, Elsa did recover. And when she did, she seemed somehow different.

    • Connections
      Featured in Radio Flyer (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Born Free
      (uncredited)

      Music by John Barry

      Lyrics by Don Black

      Sung by Matt Monro

    User reviews47

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A must for animal lovers
    "Born Free" (1965) is a great film for animal lovers, especially cat lovers. It tells the story of a couple living in Africa who come across three orphan lion cubs and keep one female, whom they name Elsa. Later they are pressured to give Elsa up to a zoo, but the woman can't because, as she argues, Elsa was born free and should therefore live free. She'd never be happy in a zoo.

    Unfortunately, Elsa has become too tame as a result of living with the couple. Can Elsa ever adapt to the wild or will she be condemned to a cage in a zoo?

    The footage of Elsa with the couple is amazing. She's like their pet cat! I'd love to have a lioness pet to hug and pat and walk around the yard with!

    Shot in beautiful Kenya, the film runs 95 minutes.

    GRADE: B+
    helpful•10
    0
    • Wuchakk
    • Mar 14, 2014

    FAQ6

    • What is 'Born Free' about?
    • Is 'Born Free' based on a book?
    • Does Elsa play herself?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 22, 1966 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
      • Swahili
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Kenya
    • Production companies
      • Open Road Films (II)
      • Atlas
      • Highroad
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 35 minutes
      • Stereo

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