Product Details

• Actors: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers
• Directors: James Hill
• Format: NTSC
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Columbia Pictures
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302540437
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,955 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Born Free" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Born Free is a bona fide family classic. The tale of how Kenya game warden George Adamson and his wife Joy (on whose book the film is based, with Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers in the principal roles) adopted and raised three orphaned lion cubs, taking a particular shine to the one they call Elsa before helping her return to the wild, is familiar by now; so's John Barry's Oscar-winning title song. And while the movie has its flaws (it contains references to "Bwana George" and such that would be considered frightfully un-PC nowadays), the animal footage, especially that of the lions in their various stages of development, is extraordinary and timelessly entertaining. DVD bonus features are limited to theatrical trailers, but the digitally remastered film can be viewed in both widescreen and full screen. A keeper. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and very touching adaption of Elsa's story, November 16, 2002

By 

stardustraven "stardustraven" (Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Born Free [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I grew up reading Joy Adamson's trilogy about Elsa, the lioness ['Born Free', 'Living Free' and 'Forever Free'], and Elsa has remained always very dear to my heart, an unforgettable furry heroine. This film is an excellent and truthful adaption of Mrs. Adamson's wonderful book. In the late 1950's Kenyan Game Warden George Adamson and his wife Joy became the foster parents of three female lion cubs whose mother had been killed by mistake. They eventually decided to send two cubs away to a zoo and keep the smallest cub which had become the most dear to them. This was Elsa and she would acquire world fame. Much joy and heartbreak followed when the Adamsons ultimately decided to rehabilitate Elsa back into the wild. Since in their opinion that is where she belonged. After a difficult adjustment they were rewarded with success.

This film which was shot on location in Kenya and directed by Tom McGowan and James Hill is a remarkably intelligent and truthful adaption. It follows Elsa from cub hood to motherhood and superbly brings to life the joys and heartbreak which Elsa and the Adamsons went through together. Much of this is due to the excellent, dedicated and vibrant performances of Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna (who are real life husband and wife) as the Adamson couple. The Travers couple worked closely with George Adamson who was an advisor for this film in regard with the lions. Since they aimed at natural performances by the lions. Friendship would develop between the Travers and the Adamsons and they bonded firmly with the lions. After this film the Adamsons would continue with the rehabilitation of big cats back into the wild and the Travers besides acting went into wildlife conservation.

Since the heroine of this film is a furry one, something certainly needs to be said about the lionesses, lions and cubs who gave such wonderful and gripping performances here. The part of Elsa was taken by the lionesses Girl, Mara and Henrietta and the dedication and love of George Adamson and the Travers brought them to outstanding performances.

A film with many funny, comic, touching and sometimes heart wrenching moments and there's also the gorgeous Kenyan scenery to enjoy. It has rightly become a classic!

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Watch it and cry again, November 13, 2001

By 

"save_dee" (Montréal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Born Free [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw this movie 25(?) years ago and cried as a little girl. Now that I am 38 and I watched it again from a completely different perspective, I think I cried even more. This is a movie that ALL must see!! It is the most heart-warming story ever written. I am so glad that Joy and George Adamson shared their story of Elsa with the rest of the world!!!!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully crafted, heart-warming classic., December 9, 2001

By 

Madhura de Silva (Colombo, Sri Lanka) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Born Free [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"Born Free" is a true story about the adoption of a wild lion cub by a game warden in Kenya and his wife who are eventually confronted with two choises, either carrying out the tedious task of introducing the cub back to the wild in three months, or sacrificing her freedom by giving her to a zoo. The two people go through everything that is inevitable when you have a large cat for a pet. The film has its share of emotional moments like when the Adamsons get the cubs to lap up milk for the first time, and the time when the adolescent Elsa is isolated for a few days and is found wounded and unstable. But they are well balanced out with the amusing situations like Elsa riding on the hood of the truck and her bringing a two year-old elephant calf to the camp etc.

The film is so polished and of high quality that unless one is aware that it was made in '66, he/she will undoubtedly be lead to think that it was made in at least 1980. I was really surprised. I will add however, that I watched the film on TV yesterday for the first time and that is what my review is based on. Anyway I doubt the VHS is any different. So clever is the film in getting its points and objectives across that even people who aren't into wildlife movies will enjoy this, as I observed while I was watching. You have to admit, you don't often see a lioness swimming in the ocean and playing "foot" ball, do you? Also, the film runs for around 1 hour & 40 minutes. Long enough for you? I strongly recommend this film to anyone.