Stars: Virginia McKenna, Bill Travers, Geoffrey Keen, Susan Hampshire, Nigel Davenport

Director: Jack Couffer

Summary: In 'Born Free' which was filmed in spectacular African settings, we witness the real-life adventures of the late Joy Adamson, her husband George, and Elsa the lioness. 'Living Free' continues the story and finds that Elsa has died and her cubs have to be captured and taken to a distant game reserve to keep them safe from poachers and hunters.

A special double-set collection of the nature classic and it's sequel.
BORN FREE (1965): The true story of Elsa the lioness who was raised by game warden George Adamson and his wife Joy. Based on Joy's book and one of the best family dramas of all time. Academy Awards: Best Song ("Born Free"), Best Original Music Score.
LIVING FREE (1972): In this sequel to "Born Free," Joy and George Adamson return to East Africa only to discover Elsa, the lioness they had raised and set free dying - with three lion cubs left to be taken care of.

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Born Freeis 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 Freeis 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 Freefinds 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

Aspect Ratio:	1.85 Wide Screen, 2.35 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Theatrical Trailers
Year:	1996
Release Date:	January 12, 2004
Runtime:	204 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R P 1266
Keywords:	Family, Born, Free, Living, Wide, Screen
Genre:	Family