The Lion Cub from Harrods (2009 TV Movie) User Reviews

Moving, heart-warming, uplifting. A beautiful film about good people and an amazing lion.

[justkit · 10/10 · 6 December 2009]

I first saw this inspirational film on TV by accident, and was moved to tears. I couldn't get it out of my mind, and phoned the TV channel to ask if it would ever be released on DVD. I was told that they'd had so many requests that it would indeed be released on DVD - and it was. I bought a copy for myself (which I've already re-watched 3 times) and a copy for each member of my family.

This is a film that never becomes dull, and can be used as a pick-me-up whenever you're feeling down. I cry every time I watch it, from the very first shot until the gloriously moving and uplifting conclusion. (The DVD also features fantastic extras which also reduce me to tears!) The story is well told, using interviews with all the surviving participants filmed in 2009, illustrated with the original footage and photographs of Christian the lion and his human friends back in the early 70's in London and Kenya.

It's an amazing story of good, loving people who fall in love with a captive lion and devote themselves to his rehabilitation into the wild. With the help of legendary lion expert George Adamson, and "Born Free" stars Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers, Christian's 'owners', Anthony Bourke and John Rendall successfully returned Christian to the wild, where he eventually became the head of his own pride.

The film includes that now world-famous scene of Christian's reunion with Bourke and Rendall when they returned to Africa to check on his progress. The scene caused a sensation when it was posted on YouTube in 2008, and was the impetus for this documentary being made. As a result of the renewed interest in the story, Bourke and Rendall have also updated their 1971 book "A Lion Called Christian".

I recommend buying the book and the DVD, and also making a donation to the Born Free Foundation to help them continue their commendable work.

Touching account of two men raising a pet Lion in London then releasing it in Africa.

[TxMike · 22 March 2013]

I remember the first time I visited Harrods, the London department store, in the 1980s. It really has almost everything, and apparently back in the 1960s (maybe even earlier) Harrods had a section that sold zoo animals. For the customer who had to have the exotic.

This is a story of two men who found two Lion cubs, one a male the other a female, for sale at Harrods. They took pity on the poor male cub and bought him for what would be about $3000 today. They brought him home, named him Christian, and kept him in their apartment.

Soon Christian the Lion became too large and too rambunctious for only the apartment so they found a place to let him run and play, the fenced-in cemetery of a nearby church. With permission of the Vicar, of course. The Lion behaved just like a good pet, just much larger. He was fond of jumping into his owners' arms, and treating them like his parents.

But as Christian continued to grow eventually it became clear he needed even more room. A zoo or circus was out of the question, but they located a refuge in Kenya that specialized in grooming animals to be turned into the wild eventually.

This is a very nice story of a Lion, but an even better story of two men who cared for their pet Lion and did what was best for him. The most touching moment was probably when they visited Christian one year after he had been in Kenya, and had his own pride of two young females. When he recognized the two men, his former owners, he began to walk faster and faster until he was jumping on them like old times.

A very nice film.

Absolutely wonderful...on every level! :)

[gilligan1965 · 10/10 · 21 April 2016]

I just watched this on YouTube and I'm so happy to see and hear of people being so devoted to a cause that helps an animals...animals in general.

These two men, John Rendall and Anthony Bourke; along with George Adamson, Bill Travers, and, Virginia McKenna (of "Born Free" fame, among other great movies) take a pet lion that's getting too large for London and relocate him to Kora, Kenya.

In 1969, 'Christian the Lion Cub' was bought at Herrods for £250 (250 Pounds = 3,000 Pounds/$4294.00 today) in London by John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace" Bourke and kept as a pet at their store until it became obvious that he's 'outgrowing the streets and parks of London.'

With the help of Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna; and, their lion caregiver friend in Kenya, George Adamson; the owners decided to bring Christian to a lion sanctuary where he could eventually live out his life in the wild.

I was REALLY impressed by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna...not only coming to the rescue, but, also, building and rebuilding a temporary enclosure for the lion on their 'own property' while all the red-tape was sorted out with the Kenyan government for the lion's relocation.

This is an A+, Five Star, Excellent documentary-animal-biography of not only a wonderful lion, but, of all the wonderful people who went way above and beyond to help this beautiful lion get back to where he'd one day call his new home...his old home...his natural home...HOME.

I HIGHLY recommend this movie/documentary for everyone...especially, if you like and appreciate lions; animals; Africa; loving, caring, and, devoted people; and, a great 'true' story.