1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Living Free
1972 1h 30m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
⭐
6
IMDB
★6.6TMDB · 10★6IMDB · 647
AdventureDramaFamily
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
When Elsa's three mischievious cubs begin wreaking havok on the nearby villages, Joy and her husband are forced to move them hundreds of miles to a game preserve.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Nigel Davenport
George Adamson
Susan Hampshire
Joy Adamson
Geoffrey Keen
Kendall
Peter Lukoye
Nuru
Edward Judd
Weaver
Shane De Louvre
Makedde
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Jack Couffer
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
54 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
CINEMA
Did you know
Part of the "Born Free Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Jack Couffer, shot by Wolfgang Suschitzky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Sol Kaplan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Don Deacon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Nigel Davenport and Susan Hampshire and Geoffrey Keen carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Jack Couffer directs. Wolfgang Suschitzky behind the camera. Sol Kaplan scores. Don Deacon cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 254 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 3Part of the "Born Free Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
- 4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 5Directed by Jack Couffer, shot by Wolfgang Suschitzky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 6Original score by Sol Kaplan. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 7Editor Don Deacon shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 8Nigel Davenport and Susan Hampshire and Geoffrey Keen carry the top of the cast.
- 9IMDB entry: tt0068866 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Only 10 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Wolfgang Suschitzky
- Original score
- Sol Kaplan
- Editing
- Don Deacon
- Runtime
- 90 min · 1h 30m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- 6
- IMDB rating
- 6/10 · 647 votes
- MPAA
- G
- US box office
- $188,300
Awards
1 nomination
Part of
Born Free Collection
Also by
Jack Couffer
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Key crew
- EditorDon Deacon
- ProducerPaul B. Radin
- Executive ProducerCarl Foreman
- Assistant CameraDavid Wynn-Jones
- Production SecretaryNoreen Hipwell
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- africa
- lion
- sequel
- kenya
- lion cub
- based on memoir or autobiography
Release history · US
When it landed
- Physical2005-04-196
