Roar (1981)

A family goes to Africa to meet their father who lives with wild lions.

Director:

Noel Marshall

Writers:

Noel Marshall, Ted Cassidy (additional script material)

Stars:

Tippi Hedren, Noel Marshall, Melanie Griffith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tippi Hedren	...	Madelaine
Noel Marshall	...	Hank
Melanie Griffith	...	Melanie
John Marshall	...	John
Jerry Marshall	...	Jerry
Kyalo Mativo	...	Mativo
Frank Tom	...	Frank
Steve Miller	...	Prentiss
Rick Glassey	...	Rick
Lenord Bokwa	...	Airport Personnel
Shamasi Sarumi	...	Airport Personnel
Will Hutchins	...	Committee Member
Eve Rattner	...	Committee Member
Peter Thiongo	...	Committee Member
Zakes Mokae	...	Committee Member (as Zakes Moakae)

Storyline

Ravening jungle beasts assemble in flocks to invade an otherwise quiet home where they terrorize the visiting family of their keeper.

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Plot Keywords:

home invasion | jungle | african lion | real life mother and daughter playing mother and daughter | cheetah | 

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Taglines:

No animals were harmed in the making of this film. 70 cast and crew members were.

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Genres:

Adventure | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1981 (Australia)

Also Known As:

El gran rugido

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Filmworks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roar (1981), classified as an adventure movie, a thriller, and even a comedy, is not considered a horror movie. However, the making of this film has been labeled as a horror due to the nightmare production shoot which was devastated by bushfire, flood, foreclosure, animal attacks, crew resignations, rain and outbreak of disease.

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Goofs

After Hank goes to the airport to get his family, on his return trip, he picks up Mativo and the tigers. Mativo's bike is placed in the trunk with the front wheel hanging out. Further down the road, the trunk is closed with no bike hanging out. Still further, the bike is again hanging out.

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Quotes

Hank: See, actually, it's Robbie I'm worried about. Their whole life is based on dominance. That's why we have such a great harmony here, because Robbie is such a gentle and loving ruler! *coos at Robbie* He also knows he has to protect the others from outsiders, and right now he's very worried about Togar. He's also worried that if the others see that he's worried or afraid, that then they'll start challenging him like they've been each other all day; no matter how afraid he is at this moment that ...

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Crazy Credits

Written and Directed by Noel Marshall and Friends

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Going Bananas (2016)

User Reviews

Who Knew Tippi Had It In Her?!?!?!

It turns out that birds aren't the only critters to have given actress Tippi Hedren a rough time on screen! In "Roar" (1981), a film that Tippi and her then-husband Noel Marshall--along with sons John and Jerry and daughter Melanie Griffith--star in (Tippi and Noel also wrote, produced and directed), all manner of wild animals turn up to give the actress some fairly tense moments. In this virtually plot less film, a mother and her three kids go to Africa to visit their scientist husband/father after an absence of three years. Dad's not at home when they arrive, but around 30 large cats--lions, tigers, jaguars, etc.--are, and proceed to chase the family all around the abode. These animals are never shown in a bad light, however; this is very much a pro-conservation film that espouses all wildlife causes. That is all well and good, but the film's primary appeal, it must be said, is the Marshalls' fearless interaction with the big cats. Seeing Noel dive into a group of fighting lions and come out bloodied but happily beaming is really quite remarkable. Tippi reveals herself to be quite an extraordinary stuntwoman, too; just watch her get tossed about by an elephant, fall off a tipping ladder into a pond, climb down a waterwheel, and roll around with the lions! We are told at the picture's beginning that no animals were harmed during its (11-year!) filming; I for one could use a further reassurance about the movie's humans! Siegfried & Roy, eat your hearts out; no lion tamer act will ever seem impressive after one sees what Noel and family do during the course of this film! "How did they ever make this thing?" is the question that springs to mind constantly during a viewing of "Roar"; the human-animal interactions shown are like nothing you have ever seen. In that, it is a completely sui generis experience, and, despite a few genuinely scary moments, perfectly suitable for watching with the kiddies. Very highly recommended.