“It’s like Walt Disney Went Insane And Made A Snuff Version Of ‘Swiss Family Robinson’!”
Got your attention? What about this headline?
“Melanie Griffith Mauled By Lions!”
Well, it’s all true, and unbelievable! The Disney quote is how HITFIX describes the madness of the obscure 1981 film “Roar!”
Ready for this fact? NO animals were harmed during the making of the film – but 70 cast & crew were!
Need proof? Check out the newly created trailer for the blu-ray release of the film!
Talk About A Close Cast!
“Roar” stars real-life Hollywood married couple Tippi Hedren and Noel Marshall! Hedren was famous for starring in “The Birds”, and her husband Marshall co-starred and also directed “Roar”, which took years to film…
Melanie Griffith Co-Stars!
Tippy Hedren’s daughter Melanie Griffith also stars – in an amazingly dangerous film that called for all of them to share close quarters with dozens of nature’s deadliest animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs!
The Most Dangerous Film Ever Made!
Bravo to Drafthouse Films for bringing “Roar” back from obscurity – what a crazy movie! Look at some of these set pics! You can see why more than 70 cast and crew members were injured during filming!
Melanie Griffith Mauled By Lions!
During filming in 1977, Melanie Griffith was mauled by a lion and required plastic surgery! Griffith reportedly received fifty stitches to her face. Some have called this the most expensive and dangerous home movie ever made, since Griffith was working with her Mom and Stepdad!
“Roar” Roars Back To Life!
You can now get your own copy of this movie to see the insanity for yourself!
Great job by Drafthouse Films bringing this very controversial yet fascinating movie back!
Here is some amazingly dangerous trivia about “Roar”:
Tippi Hedren fractured a leg during production when an elephant bucked her off its back when she was riding on top. Moreover, also during production, Hedren was bitten on the back of her head by a lioness called Sheri. Hedren received thirty-eight stitches to the open wound.
The incident can be seen in the finished picture! Hedren is hanging to the branch of a tree when thirty-four lions run across her. The thirty-fifth lion bites at her head. Hedren’s screams and the blood seen are real. Hedren once said of being bitten by a lion:
“Let me tell you, it hurts when you’re bitten by a lion. It’s not only that you may have an open, gaping wound, plus shock, but the pressure of those enormous jaws is so strong that it hurts”.
The film’s Cinematographer Jan de Bont was mauled and scalped by a lion on the set. de Bont required over 120 stitches to sew his scalp back from where a lion had bitten his head! de Bont went on to direct a number of big hit movies like “Twister”!
Tippi Hedren once said of “ROAR”:
“This was probably one of the most dangerous films that Hollywood has ever seen. It’s amazing no one was killed.”
Thanks to Drafthouse Films, here’s what you get on the new Blu-Ray!
The Making of ROAR
Q&A with Cast and Crew at ROAR “rePremiere” at The CineFamily, Los Angeles, CA (4/7/15)
The Grandeur of ROAR – an essay by Tim League
Feature Audio Commentary with John Marshall and Tim League
Trailer (2015)
Photo Gallery
Of course, Tippi Hedren worked for Alfred Hitchcock in this wild “animals gone crazy” movie:
This Hitchcock shocker was one of my “Hitch Hiking” films – and I hiked near where the film was made – click here for a look:
If “Roar” makes you want to see more classic Melanie Griffith performances, then you have to begin here!
And Melanie was oscar-nominated for her great performance alongside Harrison Ford and Siguorney Weaver in the classic comedy “Working Girl!”
Read all about her performance by clicking on my story here:
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Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Africa, Art, Cult Movies, Film Fight Club, Hollywood, Independent Cinema, Memoirs, Movies, Movies About Movies, Obscure Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
HI John, I am surprised at this film. It sounds rather foolish to interact with dangerous wild animals like this. Wild animals like lions can’t be tamed and shouldn’t be put into a situation like this in my opinion. It is interesting to see how people underestimate animals.
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She was a big movie star at the time, and they self-financed the film, so there were literally no protocols in place to stop them from making such foolish and dangerous decisions…I can’t imagine anything like this happening today! Thanks for commenting!
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I feel bad for the poor lions. They get blamed for acting on instinct.
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omg! method acting gone bad! and not even acting, just went bad!
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YIKES!! I guess I missed this movie. I would think it still remains controversial. Hubby is still freaked out by “The Birds”. Did you see Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock’e “Marnie”?
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Yes I did – and its sad that Hitchcock treated her so poorly!
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I had forgotten that. What a shame!
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I remember the fuss surrounding this film at the time, but I have never seen it. I don’t agree with people keeping wild animals as ‘pets’, and what happened on the filming didn’t surprise me at all.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It was completely misguided Pete, but no animals were harmed – just cast and crew – so their intentions were good…reminds me of the documentary “Grizzly Man” – misguided attempt to understand wild animals with tragic results. Thanks for commenting!
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