Born Free (1966) is a British drama film that stars real-life couple Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson. The Adamsons are depicted raising Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned cub, to adulthood and releasing her into the wilderness of Kenya. The film, produced by Open Road Films Ltd. and Columbia Pictures, is based on Joy Adamson’s 1960 non-fiction book Born Free. The screenplay was written by Lester Cole under the pseudonym “Gerald L.C. Copley”, and the film was directed by James Hill and produced by Sam Jaffe and Paul Radin. The musical score by John Barry and the title song, with lyrics by Don Black and sung by Matt Monro, received numerous awards.
Plot
In Kenya, British Game Warden George Adamson kills a man-eating lion and its lioness, unknowingly leaving three cubs orphaned. He and his wife, Joy, take in the cubs, naming them Big One, Lustika, and Elsa. When the cubs grow older, Big One and Lustika are sent to a zoo, but Elsa stays with the Adamsons due to their strong bond with her.
George and Joy attempt to rehabilitate Elsa into the wild at the Meru National Park, facing several challenges. Despite initial failures and injuries, Elsa gradually learns to survive on her own and is eventually accepted into a wild pride. A year later, the Adamsons are delighted to find Elsa thriving in the wild and now a mother to three cubs. They decide to let the cubs remain wild, unlike their approach with Elsa.
Cast
- Virginia McKenna as Joy Adamson
- Bill Travers as George Adamson
- Geoffrey Keen as John Kendall
- Peter Lukoye as Nuru
- Surya Patel as the Doctor
- Geoffrey Best as Watson, a big game hunter
- Bill Godden as Sam
- Lions and lionesses Boy, Girl, Henrietta, Mara, Ugas, and “the Cubs”
Production
The film reunited real-life couple Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who had previously appeared together in The Smallest Show on Earth (1957). George Adamson served as chief technical advisor for the film. The experience profoundly impacted McKenna and Travers, leading them to become animal rights activists and establish the Born Free Foundation.
Critical Response and Box Office
Born Free was critically acclaimed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 88% approval rating based on 17 reviews. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised the film for its honest and intelligent portrayal of animal life. It was one of the most popular films at the British box office in 1966.
Accolades
The film and its music received numerous awards:
- Academy Awards
- Best Original Music Score: John Barry (Won)
- Best Song: “Born Free” (Won)
- Golden Globe Awards
- Best Motion Picture – Drama (Nominated)
- Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama: Virginia McKenna (Nominated)
- Best Original Song – Motion Picture: “Born Free” (Nominated)
- Grammy Awards
- Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Show: John Barry (Nominated)
- Laurel Awards
- Sleeper of the Year (Won)
- Top Female Dramatic Performance: Virginia McKenna (5th Place)
- Top Song: “Born Free” (5th Place)
- National Board of Review Awards
- Top Ten Films (2nd Place)
The film is recognized by the American Film Institute in its lists of 100 Years…100 Songs (“Born Free” – Nominated) and 100 Years of Film Scores (Nominated).
Sequels and Spinoffs
- Living Free (1972): A sequel based on the third book in Joy Adamson’s series, starring Susan Hampshire and Nigel Davenport.
- The Lions Are Free (1969): A documentary following Bill Travers visiting George Adamson in Kenya.
- Born Free TV Series (1974): A 13-episode series starring Diana Muldaur and Gary Collins.
- Born Free: A New Adventure (1996): A TV film with Linda Purl and Chris Noth, followed by a TV series in 1998.
- To Walk with Lions (1999): A film depicting George Adamson’s later years, starring Richard Harris.
- BBC Documentaries (2010-2011): The Born Free Legacy and Elsa: The Lioness that Changed the World explored the Adamsons’ impact and Elsa’s legacy.
Born Free remains a poignant and influential film, highlighting the bond between humans and wildlife and advocating for animal rights and conservation.
