This series of intimate photographs from the 1970s of Neil the lion carries a chilling backstory that should remind us all that, no matter how much we might love them or feel close to them, we will never truly understand the mind of a wild animal.
After a trip to Africa, actress Tippi Hedren, her husband Noel Marshall, and their actress daughter Melanie Griffith, wanted to make a movie about lions. At the advice of Ron Oxley, an animal trainer who said that “to get to know about lions, you’ve got to live with them for a while,” they had Neil the lion live with them. Their life was documented by LIFE photographer Michael Rougier.
Their life with Neil seems to have been nice, but their movie, Roar, didn’t go quite so well. Melanie required 50 stitches after being attacked by a lioness that was part of the film, and cinematographer Jan de Bont had to have his scalp sewn back on. 70 people wound up being injured by the movie’s cast of 150 large predatory cats. The movie cost more than 17.5 million and made 2 million.
Neil the lion sleeping with Melanie Griffith in their home in Sherman Oaks, California, 1971
Melanie in a swimming pool with Neil (left) and a child playing with Neil (right)
Tippi Hedren resting her back on Neil while reading a newspaper
A housekeeper steps over Neil
Noel Marshall tries to work in his study with Neil on his desk
Tippi wrestling with Neil
Tippi raids the fridge and reads a newspaper with Neil
Melanie jumping into a swimming pool while Neil grabs her leg
Tippi playing with Neil
Neil in bed with Melanie
“Tiger Attack” from the movie “Roar
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It is cruel.... It is a WILD lion and a lion must live with a pack of lions not with humans like a kitten!
cats were wild, dogs(wolves) were wild, hamster, rabbits, birds were wild... that lion seems to be happy, so whats your point
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I don't understand, is that clip from the movie the same attack that put the actors in the hospital? If so, why did they keep shooting?
What kind of stupid article is this? They force and keep them all together out of their will and nature, and expect that they would follow?
there's nothing stupid about the article...the author of the article wasn't CONDONING it, just reporting it...
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Just imagine the evening crazies witha 1,000 lbs of crazy very large kitty
True: it is hard enough to cope with the "kitty crazies" with our comparatively small domestic cats! Our elderly male feline wreaks havoc!
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An animal, wild or domestic, is to be treated with respect and given space. However much we love them we cannot fully read their mind.
When man interferes with the natural instinct of any animal he's in for trouble.
The movie looks lame, I got bored and quit watching. I love lions, tigers, etc. but you couldn't pay me enough to live with them.
As a Kenyan who is used to seeing lions in the wild, in my country, these images disturb me!
so brave to live with a lion! (in some of those photos it kinda looked like the lion was gonna eat them!)
That is just INSANE..I mean Who knew? it's weird that this isn't one of those cultural 'knowns'
What happened to Neil? Did he get live out his life with his pack, I mean family?
I'd like to know too; he was such an extraordinary lion. I hope he had a happy and healthy old age, whatever way was appropriate for him.
Load More Replies... What happened to Neil? Did he get to live out his life with his pack, I mean family?
I'd like to know too; he was such an extraordinary lion. I hope he had a happy and healthy old age, whatever way was best for him.
Load More Replies...
What kind of stupid article is this? They force and keep them all together out of their will and nature and expect that they will follow?
You do realize that REPORTING a story isn't the same thing as CONDONING the thing reported...right?
Load More Replies...
Taking animal rights too far, I can't have a lion in my house and around my family. Neil belonged in the wild, not as a family pet
Those who find this cruel. Do you feel the same about a Zoo or the Circus? If not than stop. Yes it is foolish but, there is no harm done.
Do any of you people who find it wrong to have a "wild" animal as a pet also hate the idea of Zoo's? I do think that it is foolish though.
I think that Neil was an extraordinary and unusual lion, and that Tippi Hedren mistakenly ASSUMED all others to be like him. Respect them!
Neil was an UNUSUAL lion, and the terrible mistake Tippi Hedren made was ton ASSUME all others would be like him. The wildlife preserve...
its not a cat. its not a big cat. its a Lion. the Lion must be in the jungle, not in California. Its stupid and cruel
Its incredibly stupid. Lions and all other wild animals belong in the wild. Leave them be, they dont' want to be your pet
It is cruel.... It is a WILD lion and a lion must live with a pack of lions not with humans like a kitten!
cats were wild, dogs(wolves) were wild, hamster, rabbits, birds were wild... that lion seems to be happy, so whats your point
Load More Replies... I don't understand, is that clip from the movie the same attack that put the actors in the hospital? If so, why did they keep shooting?
What kind of stupid article is this? They force and keep them all together out of their will and nature, and expect that they would follow?
there's nothing stupid about the article...the author of the article wasn't CONDONING it, just reporting it...
Load More Replies... Just imagine the evening crazies witha 1,000 lbs of crazy very large kitty
True: it is hard enough to cope with the "kitty crazies" with our comparatively small domestic cats! Our elderly male feline wreaks havoc!
Load More Replies... An animal, wild or domestic, is to be treated with respect and given space. However much we love them we cannot fully read their mind.
When man interferes with the natural instinct of any animal he's in for trouble.
The movie looks lame, I got bored and quit watching. I love lions, tigers, etc. but you couldn't pay me enough to live with them.
As a Kenyan who is used to seeing lions in the wild, in my country, these images disturb me!
so brave to live with a lion! (in some of those photos it kinda looked like the lion was gonna eat them!)
That is just INSANE..I mean Who knew? it's weird that this isn't one of those cultural 'knowns'
What happened to Neil? Did he get live out his life with his pack, I mean family?
I'd like to know too; he was such an extraordinary lion. I hope he had a happy and healthy old age, whatever way was appropriate for him.
Load More Replies... What happened to Neil? Did he get to live out his life with his pack, I mean family?
I'd like to know too; he was such an extraordinary lion. I hope he had a happy and healthy old age, whatever way was best for him.
Load More Replies... What kind of stupid article is this? They force and keep them all together out of their will and nature and expect that they will follow?
You do realize that REPORTING a story isn't the same thing as CONDONING the thing reported...right?
Load More Replies... Taking animal rights too far, I can't have a lion in my house and around my family. Neil belonged in the wild, not as a family pet
Those who find this cruel. Do you feel the same about a Zoo or the Circus? If not than stop. Yes it is foolish but, there is no harm done.
Do any of you people who find it wrong to have a "wild" animal as a pet also hate the idea of Zoo's? I do think that it is foolish though.
I think that Neil was an extraordinary and unusual lion, and that Tippi Hedren mistakenly ASSUMED all others to be like him. Respect them!
Neil was an UNUSUAL lion, and the terrible mistake Tippi Hedren made was ton ASSUME all others would be like him. The wildlife preserve...
its not a cat. its not a big cat. its a Lion. the Lion must be in the jungle, not in California. Its stupid and cruel
Its incredibly stupid. Lions and all other wild animals belong in the wild. Leave them be, they dont' want to be your pet
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