Flashback 1971 -- Living With Neil the Lion

Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith and family, just hangin' with their lion

 May 1971 ~ Neil the lion with Tippi Hedren as she reads a newspaper in her home in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

This is what happens when a lion becomes part of the household.

These pictures show Tippi Hedren — star of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds — with her husband, Noel Marshall, and her daughter, actress Melanie Griffith, and their lion, Neil. Melanie is Tippi's daughter from her first marriage to Peter Griffith.  At the time these pictures were taken, Melanie was 19.

Melanie Griffith in a swimming pool with pet lion Neil.

IMAGE: MICHAEL ROUGIER / TIME & LIFE PICTURES

Neil playing with a child by the pool side.

IMAGE: MICHAEL ROUGIER / TIME & LIFE PICTURES

 

To get to know about lions, you’ve got to live with them for a while ~ RON OXLEY, ANIMAL TRAINER, to Tippi Hedren

 

While filming in Africa in 1969, Hedren and her husband saw an abandoned house which had been taken over and inhabited by lions.  On their return to America, they were determined to make a film about — and with — lions, based on what they had witnessed, and to raise awareness of the endangered status of lions.

Animal trainer Ron Oxley advised them that “to get to know anything about lions, you’ve just got to live with them for a while.” Hedren and her husband did exactly that, introducing lions to their residential home.

Following complaints, the family and the animals moved to a remote California ranch.

A housekeeper steps over pet lion Neil in the home of Tippi Hedren and Noel Marshall.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

Noel Marshall tries to work in his study with a lion in his face.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

Roar is the most expensive home movie ever made ~ INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE

 

"Roar" starred Hedren and Marshall, with Melanie paying Hedren's on-screen daughter. The film was written and directed by Marshall and produced by Hedren and Marshall.  Marshall had been producer of 1973's "The Exorcist."

The working title of the movie was "Lions, Lions and More Lions," although the actual movie features a range of big cat species including jaguars, cheetahs, cougars and leopards.  For the plot, a male scientist is studying the lives of African big cats. He is not at home when his family comes to visit, and they are pursued from room to room by the lions and other big cats in his house.

Tippi Hedren wrestling with Neil.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

IMAGE: MICHAEL ROUGIER / TIME & LIFE PICTURES

IMAGE: MICHAEL ROUGIER / TIME & LIFE PICTURES

Hedren and Marshall envisoned working with and filming big cats on a vast scale,  bringing together 150 large cats — the largest private collection ever assembled. The cost of managing so many untrained animals contributed to the film's huge production costs.

Photography for the film took five years. According to Randolph Sellars, a cinematographer working on "Roar" in 1978, every scene involving the animals was improvised, and covered by up to eight cameras. Released in 1981, "Roar" cost over $17.5 million but grossed just over $2 million.
A year later, Hedren and Marshall separated.

Melanie jumping in a swimming pool while Neil grabs her leg.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

They are dangerous. Everyone in my family has been hurt. ~ TIPPI HEDREN

 

During production of the film, Melanie was attacked by a lioness and required 50 facial stitches. Cinematographer Jan de Bont had to have his scalp sewn back on after being bitten by a lion. In all, more than 70 people were injured during the creation of "Roar."

Neil sleeps in bed with Melanie Griffith.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

Neil sleeping with Melanie.

Image: Michael Rougier / Time & Life Pictures

After production of "Roar" was complete, Hedren founded the Shambala Preserve, an animal sanctuary for the protection of mistreated or neglected exotic animals. The actress still lives there, as do around 70 animals, including Michael Jackson's Bengal tiger.

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