Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion is a 1965 light comedy-adventure film, produced by Ivan Tors, Leonard B. Kaufman, and Harry Redmond Jr., directed by Andrew Marton, and starring Marshall Thompson and Betsy Drake. The film was shot at Soledad Canyon, California, and in Miami, Florida. It became the basis for the television series Daktari.
Contents
Plot
Paula Tracey, an adventurous and fearless girl, is the daughter of veterinarian Dr. Marsh Tracey. Dr. Tracey is the director of East Africa's animal hospital and nature preserve. He fights to protect all African wildlife, while studying and caring for injured animals and endangered species.
Paula and her father find Clarence, a wild lion who is cross-eyed. His eyesight problems make hunting in the wild impossible, and they adopt him as a new member of their wildlife preserve. Clarence later saves the day when Julie Harper and her research gorillas are threatened by poachers.
Cast
Marshall Thompson as Dr. Marsh Tracy
Betsy Drake as Julie Harper
Richard Haydn as Rupert Rowbotham
Cheryl Miller as Paula Tracy
Alan Caillou as Carter
Rockne Tarkington as Juma
Maurice Marsac as Gregory
Robert DoQui as Sergeant
Albert Amos as Husseini
Dinny Powell as Dinny
Mark Allen as Larson
Laurence Conroy as Tourist
Allyson Daniell as Tourist's Wife
Janee Michelle as Girl In Pit
Naaman Brown
Napoleon Whiting as Villager
Chester Jones as Old Man
Animals
Clarence the Lion
Doris the Chimpanzee
Mary Lou the Python
Media
Clarence the Lion was the subject of an article in the 25 September 1964 issue of LIFE.