The Lion ** (1962, William Holden, Trevor Howard, Capucine, Pamela Franklin) – Classic Movie Review 8935

Director Jack Cardiff’s 1962 romantic action adventure drama The Lion stars William Holden as American lawyer Robert Hayward, who goes to Africa to visit his ex-wife Christine (Capucine) on a wildlife reserve in Kenya, where their young daughter Tina (Pamela Franklin, aged 12) also lives with her mother and stepfather. Trevor Howard also stars as John Bullit.

This unconvincing marital drama, based on a novel by Joseph Kessel, is far outstripped by the picturesque Kenyan countryside and handsome wildlife. The Lion is a tired, middle-aged film with weary acting and tepid direction by Cardiff, though it is balanced by Malcolm Arnold’s distinguished score and, especially, Ted Scaife’s attractive cinematography in DeLuxe color and CinemaScope.

Also in the cast are the legendary African lion Zamba (King / The Lion), Samuel Romboh, Christopher Agunda, Paul Oduor and Zakee.

The Lion is directed by Jack Cardiff, runs 94 minutes, is made by Samuel G Engel Productions, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Irene Kamp and Louis Kamp, based on a novel by Joseph Kessel, is shot in DeLuxe color and CinemaScope by Ted Scaife, produced by Samuel G Engel, scored by Malcolm Arnold and designed by John Hoesli and Alan Withy.

Pamela Franklin immediately bonded with the full-grown African lion Zamba before making the movie, and worked with its owner, renowned animal trainer Ralph Helfer. She was the first child to work with Zamba.

She made her film debut at age 11 as Flora in The Innocents (1961) and is best remembered as the rebellious Sandy in the The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and as the kidnap victim in The Night of the Following Day (1969). she married actor Harvey Jason and retired from acting in 1981, aged 31.

Her husband and son Louis run the first edition bookshop, Mystery Pier Books, in West Hollywood.

Harvey Jason (born 29 February 1940) is an English actor in films including The Gumball Rally and The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and dozens of TV roles in the 1970s and 1980s. The couple met in 1970 while making Necromancy.

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