Michael Forlong directed several films for the Children's Film Foundation.
This one stars his son James Forlong as young Andrew who spots a lion in the family barn.
James decides to look after it while the army on intent on finding and shooting dead the lion that has escaped from the circus.
James problem is finding enough food to feed the lion. He gets together with a few friends to get enough meat from the butcher.
Later he tries to contact the circus owner to take the lion back as the army close in.
The film does well with the kids bickering and falling out. However the story is just a bit too simple.
This film has a cast of well known comedy actors. Wilfrid Brambell, Irene Handl, Jimmy Edwards.
The main comic moments are from pop star Joe Brown as the inept Private Worms. It really is for the various army personnel to provide the comedy such as the blundering know it all Captain Harris.
Sadly several of the younger cast members died at a relatively early age. Louise Rush who plays Belinda died at the age of 56 in 2006.
James Forlong went on to become a well known television journalist. He committed suicide in 2003 at the age of 44 after he admitted faking a news report during the Iraq war.
