Product: Born Free [VHS] (1966)
Rating: 4.0
Still the High Watermark for Nature Films Even If It Has Aged a Bit
Propelled by Matt Munro's Sinatra-esque rendition of the memorable title tune, this family-friendly nature film directed by James Hill was a must-see when it was originally released in 1966. Four decades later, the song has become a anthem-like cliché for all subsequent animal-freeing stories, and I'm actually surprised at the implied graphic nature of some of the scenes, in particular, the opening lion attack which spurs British game warden George Adamson to kill the man-eating parents of Elsa and her two sister cubs. However, the heart of the story is still his wife Joy's true-story account of raising and freeing Elsa into the wild to survive rather than suffer the fate of her siblings who are exiled to the Rotterdam Zoo. The stunning Kenya locations and carefully trained lions bring this involving story to life, but credit should also be given to Virginia McKenna's proud, touching performance as Joy.McKenna makes us see Elsa through her eyes as she mothers the cub only to be forced to come to terms with what the animal's natural instincts should be. Bill Travers, McKenna's real-life husband, plays George, though he is there mostly to be Joy's support system. Because the film only runs a brief 95 minutes, the story can feel episodic and disjointed, giving precious little time to related plot points such as George's drug dependency from malaria and how Joy's reasoning is clouded by her focused affection for Elsa. Fleshing out these aspects could have made for a more rounded portrait of the Adamsons. As it stands, it is still a stunningly photographed adventure film documentary-like in cinematic style but leavened by its heartfelt approach. It's no wonder McKenna and Travers remained active in the conservation movement for years afterward. The 2002 DVD offers a relatively clean print, though the wear-and-tear is still evident, and trailers for the film and its 1972 sequel,Living Free.