| Born Free / Living Free [1966] [1996] | ![Born Free / Living Free [1966] [1996]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ZVNFG9Y6L._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Jack Couffer
Actors: Nigel Davenport, Susan Hampshire, Geoffrey Keen, Peter Lukoye, Shane De Louvre
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: £12.99
Buy New: £3.89
You Save: £9.10 (70%)
New (10) Used (3) from £3.89
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 3027
Format: Colour, Pal, Widescreen
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Universal, suitable for all
Running Time: 204 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5035822126619
ASIN: B0000UM0E4
Theatrical Release Date: 1996
Release Date: January 12, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: IN STOCK. USUALLY DISPATCHED SAME OR NEXT WORKING DAY (MON - FRI). PLEASE ALLOW 3 - 6 DAYS FOR DELIVERY. BRAND NEW AND FULLY GUARANTEED BY A WELL ESTABLISHED TRUSTED LTD COMPANY. EMAIL DISPATCH CONFIRMATIONS SENT. TRACK PROGRESS 24/7
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Amazon.co.uk Review
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 is 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. The 1972 sequel doesn't quite measure up to its predecessor but, in an era when most "family entertainment" tends toward the insipid at best, Living Free is still a worthwhile venture. Susan Hampshire and Nigel Davenport take over the roles of Joy and George Adamson, the British couple who, while stationed in Kenya, adopted three orphaned lion cubs. Living Free finds the dying Elsa, their favourite of the original three and now a mother herself, returning to the Adamsons, who must figure out what to do with Elsa's three cubs, who develop an unfortunate appetite for domestic livestock. The film is on the slow side, but once again it's the animals who steal the show; the footage of the young lions interacting with other beasts, from wild giraffes and rhinos to a pet dog, is remarkable. --Sam Graham
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| Customer Reviews:
One of the all-time great animal films plus one of the all-time worst sequels November 24, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Along with Lassie Come Home, Born Free is probably the gold standard of animal movies in terms, and there's a lotto like in this story of Joy Adamson and her gamekeeper husband trying to return the domesticated lioness Elsa to the wild: the lion cubs are cute, the Scope wildlife photography still impressive and John Barry's score especially beautiful (the famous Matt Munro song was added to the end titles after the film was already on release. Where it shows its age is when the humans take centre-stage. At times Virginia McKenna can be a bit too head girl of the hockey school as Joy Adamson for a modern audience - while the Adamsons' real-life relationship was so tempestuous they spent much of their lives apart (Travers recalled that during filming whenever George was in the doghouse, Joy would treat him with equal condescension), their movie incarnations are so determinedly nice they make characters from Disney films of the 60s look like axe murderers. That said, McKenna and Travers are one of the few real-life married couples who make a convincing couple onscreen, bringing a comfortable familiarity to their scenes that smoothes over some of the more twee dialogue.
Its surprise success after a slow start led to director James Hill reluctantly being typecast on many of the slew of similar animal films that followed in its wake while his two stars started the Born Free foundation to release zoo animals into the wild. It also led to a very unfortunate sequel, though none of the key players apart from Carl Foreman would return.
Living Free is one of those obscure sequels to huge hits that most people don't even know exist. In this case it's not hard to see why: it's pretty awful. Susan Hampshire and Nigel Davenport make poor replacements for Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. While you wouldn't expect them to match the original couple's easy familiarity, these two don't look like they've even been introduced yet. Worse, the film is a clumsy mess, the first quarter a clumsy rehash of the first film mixing stock footage with awkward reshot word-for-word versions of scenes restaged by the new stars with all the confidence of a blindfolded kid with both legs tied together trying to hit a pinata (although you do get to see Geoffrey Keen play a scene identically to his performance with the more experienced stars). When the plot does get going in the last half hour there are some genuinely tense scenes as they attempt to cage Elsa the Lioness's cubs to take them to a new reserve before they are destroyed as a menace to local farms, but you'll probably have given up by then. It doesn't even have the benefit of Scope photography or a John Barry score to sugar the pill, often looking more like a poor TV pilot than a real film (and indeed a TV series did briefly follow, albeit with a new cast). Not good.
The only extras are the original theatrical trailers.
 Wonderful March 25, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This film adaptation which was made in 1966 (not 1996!) stays mostly true to the original book. It tells the tale of three orphaned lion cubs, two of which are sent to zoos. The other, Elsa, develops a strong bond with her owners. But of course, she's a lioness, not a pussycat, and eventually she grows too big. Not wanting her to go to a zoo, her owner Joy Adamson tries to release her back into the wild.
Although not as good as th original, the sequel Living Free makes great eye-candy, showing some adorable scenes with the cubs, and some stunning footage of wildlife (they actually caught a cheetah catching its prey).
I saw these films when I was about ten, and I am 13 now. They stay very loyal to the books, and well, if you haven't read, I suggest read them then watch the films. Highly recommended.
(How could you say these films are 'gruesome.' It's quite tame compared to what I've seen on so-called 'children's TV.' And besides, you can't sugarcoat everything for children. Next time, try explaining to your kids that this is a film about wild animals, not cute little fairies.)
Born Free March 21, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have only seen Born Free, however at such a low price I would recommend buying this 2 film set. Born Free is a classic film that will have you crying and smiling, I watched this film as a child and it became a firm favourite of mine. The music for this film is excellent and really sets the tone of the film, I can find no fault with this film and I will always have fond memories of it. It may look dated now as it was produced in 1996 but the essence of the film makes up for this.
 gruesome scenes September 15, 2006
5 out of 15 found this review helpful
Although rated 'U' this film really shocked my children (aged 5 and 8). it shows graphic scenes of a human being killed by a lion, a lion being shot, etc. definitely not suitable for young children (or any children?!)
Great movie February 16, 2004
12 out of 22 found this review helpful
This is a great story of a orphan female lion named Elsa... Created by humans Elsa enjoys life like a big domestic cat... but it will be a time to became a real lion...
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