Markup View

Author: Madrugada

Oct 21st 2009 at 9:47:55 PM

I Think that "Big Cats as Fictional Characters or Influences" is a valid proposal.

And to that end:

* The 1965 movie ''Clarence The Cross-eyed Lion'' and the TV show based on it in 1966, ''Daktari'' both featured Clarence, a male lion who happened to be cross-eyed. In the movie, he's captured after raiding the livestock of a village -- it's discovered that due to his crossed eyes he sees double and cannot hunt wild game. He's taken to the local vet clinic and adopted by the veterinarian's daughter. The Tv show focused more on the vet, his family, and dangers-of-the-week (often poachers or criminals trading in wild animals,) but Clarence was still a major character.

* ''Born Free'': book in 1960, film in 1966. A lioness, raised from a cub in captivity, is rehabilitated to life in the wild. It's worth keeping in mind that in the late 50's the idea of rehabilitating captive animals for successful life in the wold was not widely accepted or attempted. The Adamsons may have been the first to try it, I'm not sure.