FAQ

Twelve-year old Tina (Pamela Franklin) has been raised on a wildlife sanctuary in East Africa ever since her mother Christine (Capucine) divorced her father Robert Hayward (William Holden) and remarried John Bullit (Trevor Howard), a safari guide and now the warden of the preserve. Fearing that Tina has gone native and become too attached to King, a full-grown male lion, Christine sends for Robert in hopes that he will help guide Tina back into a civilized life.

Le Lion (1958) is a novel by French author Joseph Kessel. The novel was adapted for the movie by Irene and Louis Kamp.

Yes, indeed. Filming took place in the East African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Those who have both read the book and seen the movie say that the movie makes several changes, particularly in the relationships. According to the novel, the girl's name is Patricia; her mother's name is Sybil; John Bullit is Patricia's real father, not stepfather; the narrator (whose name is never revealed) has no family relation with Patricia nor her mother and never saw them before he came to Kenya. In the end, Patricia leaves with him but her mother stays behind.