Roar (1981)

Roar - 1981

Our next offering is something a little unusual in the way of films.  1981's "Roar" brought in a cast of lions, tigers, leopards, mountain lions, jaguars, ligers, and tigons fully unrestrained and inhabiting the screen in a big way.  A conservationist studies big cats and is looking for a place where they can all be free.  This movie has been called "the most dangerous film ever made".

Besides the animals, the film's cast includes Tippi Hedren, Noel Marshall, Melanie Griffith, John Marshall, Jerry Marshall, and Kyalo Mativo.

At the film's opening, we are treated to some beautiful shots of African wildlife as they gallop across the plains of Tanzania.

Hank studies big cats and not just African ones.  He's got cats of all sizes and varieties, including: lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, mountain lions, ligers, and tigons.

The lions like to play chase with him when he rides by on his motorcycle.

We are introduced to his "family" of cats, which seem to have a complete run of his house.  They also overwhelm his friend Mativo, who can never get over his wariness of the cats.

Hank's family has come to Africa from Chicago to visit him and see his work.  He's unable to meet them at the airport because of some problems with a committee that wants to review his grant.

The family is going to be quite surprised when they realize what awaits them at the house.

They finally make it to the house after running straight into a herd of elephants.  The house seems to be empty of cats.  The family looks for Hank, but can't find him.  However, the cats are very aware of new people in their domain.

They hear a noise outside and see a bunch of lions tearing apart a zebra carcass.  When they leave the doors open accidentally, the lions bring the zebra inside.  "Oh, God, look what the cat dragged in!" exclaims Hank's wife Madelaine.

And they are quick to realize that cats now patrol every exit of the house, every nook and cranny.

When they try and escape by boat, an unhappy elephant totally demolishes it, leaving the family to swim back to the house.

Thankfully, Hank arrives after dealing with poachers and a rogue lion and sets the family's mind at ease.  They even decide to stay with him for a week before returning to Chicago.  Now, they've got to clean up a messy house.

Cast rundown:

   Tippi Hedren..................................Madelaine

   Noel Marshall.................................Hank

   Melanie Griffith...............................Melanie

   John Marshall.................................John

   Jerry Marshall................................Jerry

   Kyalo Mativo..................................Mativo

And that's it for Roar.  All of the animals were rescued by Tippi Hedren and her then husband, Noel Marshall, and actually lived with them for a time.  The cast and crew suffered horrific injuries while working with these big cats.  Tippi had her ankle fractured by an elephant, and she was bitten in the head by a lion.  Marshall had his hand bitten through by a lion.  Melanie Griffith received fifty stitches after being attacked by a lion, and it was feared she would lose an eye.  Though the film setting is Africa, it was actually filmed on a piece of land acquired by Hedren and Marshall in California.  This eventually became the Shambala Preserve run by Tippi Hedren.  I can tell you from firsthand experience that it is a beautiful place.

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