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Born Free

  • 1966
  • PG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
7.6K
YOUR RATING
Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, and Elsa in 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
40 Photos
Jungle AdventureAdventureBiographyDramaFamily

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.

  • Directors
    • James Hill
    • Tom McGowan
  • Writers
    • Joy Adamson
    • Lester Cole
  • Stars
    • Virginia McKenna
    • Bill Travers
    • Geoffrey Keen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    7.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • James Hill
      • Tom McGowan
    • Writers
      • Joy Adamson
      • Lester Cole
    • Stars
      • Virginia McKenna
      • Bill Travers
      • Geoffrey Keen
    • 59User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 5 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos2

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

    Photos40

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    + 33
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    Top Cast13

    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)
    • Directors
      • James Hill
      • Tom McGowan
    • Writers
      • Joy Adamson
      • Lester Cole
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews59

    7.27.6K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Born Free' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, and Karen Gillan in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
    Jungle Adventure
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      A documentary follow-up to Born Free (1966), entitled The Lions Are Free (1969), was released. The film follows Born Free-actor Bill Travers as he journeys to a remote area in Kenya to visit George Adamson, and several of Adamson's lion friends in his lion rehabilitation reserve, Kora Reserve. It also tells what happened to the lions Boy, Girl, Ugas, Mara, Henrietta, and Little Elsa, and other lions that appeared in the first film.
    • 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

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    FAQ6

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

    Details

    • Release date
      • June 22, 1966 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Swahili
    • Also known as
      • Una leona de dos mundos
    • Filming locations
      • Meru National Park, Kenya
    • Production companies
      • Open Road Films (II)
      • Atlas
      • Highroad
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross worldwide
      • $143
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 35m(95 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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