The Born Free Legacy, BBC Four | reviews, news & interviews
The Born Free Legacy, BBC Four
The Born Free Legacy, BBC Four
The story of Joy and George Adamson is a long way from the rose-tinted myth
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
The lion does sometimes lie down with the man - and the woman
If you have fond childhood memories of either the Born Free book or movie, you might want to stay away. From the opening moments of this documentary, the knowledge that lion-loving conservationist George Adamson was fatally shot in the back on a dirt road in Kenya will immediately stop John Barry’s epic and optimistic theme song from swelling to life in your head. But that’s only the beginning of a systematic dismantling of the Born Free myth from a documentary which, ironically, was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Joy Adamson’s unexpected bestseller.
If you have fond childhood memories of either the Born Free book or movie, you might want to stay away. From the opening moments of this documentary, the knowledge that lion-loving conservationist George Adamson was fatally shot in the back on a dirt road in Kenya will immediately stop John Barry’s epic and optimistic theme song from swelling to life in your head. But that’s only the beginning of a systematic dismantling of the Born Free myth from a documentary which, ironically, was made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of Joy Adamson’s unexpected bestseller.
‘Pre-Born Free, Africa was the Dark Continent and blowing away Big Game was as gentlemanly a pastime as golf or cricket’
Share this article
Add comment
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more TV
The Perfect Couple, Netflix review - an inconvenient death ruins lavish Nantucket wedding
Liev Schreiber steals the show in adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's novel
Sambre: Anatomy of a Crime, BBC Four review - satisfying novelistic retelling of a French true crime saga
Compelling story of a rapist who hid in plain sight for 30 years
Kaos, Netflix review - playing fast and profuse with the Greek myths
A rainbow of acting talent, but too many ideas thrown into the labyrinth
Slow Horses, Season 4, Apple TV+ review - Gary Oldman returns as the 'gross and inappropriate' Jackson Lamb
Latest instalment of the Slough House saga exerts a vice-like grip
theartsdesk Q&A: David Morrissey on (among other things) the return of 'Sherwood' and 'Daddy Issues'
Liverpool-born actor reflects on a journey from Everyman Theatre to film and TV stardom
Sherwood, Series 2, BBC One review - maybe time isn't such a great healer
Gripping continuation of James Graham's Nottinghamshire saga
Freddie Flintoff: Field of Dreams on Tour, BBC One review - a passage to India with the Preston irregulars
Cricket helps Fred overcome near-death experience
The Instigators, Apple TV+ review - Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are back on the Beantown beat
Doug Liman's black-comedy thriller is lifted by its high-octane cast
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, Sky Documentaries review - the New Jersey rocker with many strings to his bow
Bill Teck's film reveals that Van Zandt wasn't just Bruce Springsteen's right-hand man
Time Bandits, Apple TV+ review - larky expanded rerun of the Gilliam/Palin classic
Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement give children's sci-fi a human touch
Lady in the Lake, Apple TV+ review - a multi-layered Baltimore murder mystery
Natalie Portman stars in screen adaptation of Laura Lippman's novel
The Jetty, BBC One review - lowlife in a Northern town
Jenna Coleman stars in a dark tale of abuse and exploitation
Comments
Wow, this is one of the most