Director:
Andrew MartonWriters:
Alan Caillou, Art Arthur, Marshall ThompsonProducer:
Leonard KaufmanCinematographer:
Lamar BorenEditors:
Warren Adams, John B. WoelzProduction Designers:
George W. Davis, Eddie ImazuProduction Company:
Ivan Tors EnterprisesThe 10 Jul 1964 LAT announced the title as an upcoming project for producer Ivan Tors. Principal photography began 14 Sep 1964, according to a production chart in the 18 Sep 1964 DV. The 10 Aug 1965 LAT identified the primary location as “Africa, U.S.A.,” a wild-animal ranch in Palmdale, CA, owned and operated by technical advisor Ralph Helfer. The 12 Oct 1964 LAT claimed that the film gave actor Marshall Thompson the first starring role of his twenty-year career. Thompson was also credited with co-writing the original story. According to the 3 Jan 1965 LAT, the production marked actress Betsy Drake’s brief return to acting after a six-year hiatus. The 1 Aug 1966 issue noted that the cast also included ape impersonator Janos Prohaska. Post-production was underway by 26 Oct 1964, as stated in that day’s DV.
A news item in the 20 Nov 1964 DV reported that percussionist Shelly Manne, credited with writing and performing the “title music,” would likely score the entire film. The 13 Oct 1965 Var attributed a theme song written for the picture to Ray Stevens and Bob Tubert. The song was later adapted for Daktari, the television series based on the film (CBS, 11 Jan 1966—15 Jan 1969).
Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion opened during Jun 1965 in Detroit, MI, and Seattle, WA, according to box-office reports in the 23 Jun 1965 Var. Openings followed in New York City on 4 Aug 1965, and in Los Angeles, CA, on 25 Aug ...
The 10 Jul 1964 LAT announced the title as an upcoming project for producer Ivan Tors. Principal photography began 14 Sep 1964, according to a production chart in the 18 Sep 1964 DV. The 10 Aug 1965 LAT identified the primary location as “Africa, U.S.A.,” a wild-animal ranch in Palmdale, CA, owned and operated by technical advisor Ralph Helfer. The 12 Oct 1964 LAT claimed that the film gave actor Marshall Thompson the first starring role of his twenty-year career. Thompson was also credited with co-writing the original story. According to the 3 Jan 1965 LAT, the production marked actress Betsy Drake’s brief return to acting after a six-year hiatus. The 1 Aug 1966 issue noted that the cast also included ape impersonator Janos Prohaska. Post-production was underway by 26 Oct 1964, as stated in that day’s DV.
A news item in the 20 Nov 1964 DV reported that percussionist Shelly Manne, credited with writing and performing the “title music,” would likely score the entire film. The 13 Oct 1965 Var attributed a theme song written for the picture to Ray Stevens and Bob Tubert. The song was later adapted for Daktari, the television series based on the film (CBS, 11 Jan 1966—15 Jan 1969).
Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion opened during Jun 1965 in Detroit, MI, and Seattle, WA, according to box-office reports in the 23 Jun 1965 Var. Openings followed in New York City on 4 Aug 1965, and in Los Angeles, CA, on 25 Aug 1965. Reviews were generally positive.
The 8 May 1966 LAT reported that Clarence, the titular lion of the film, won a second-place PATSY award from the American Humane Association.
Copyright length: 92 minutes.
Dr. Marsh Tracy and his teenaged daughter, Paula, are working in an African game preserve when a harmless lion begins to wander through the villages, frightening the natives. Dr. Tracy traps the lion, examines him, and discovers that the cross-eyed animal cannot see well enough to hunt. Paula names the lion Clarence, and the two become great friends. Paula's British tutor, Rupert Rowbotham, is terrified of Clarence and the other animals on the preserve--Doris the chimpanzee and Mary Lou the python. Meanwhile, Dr. Tracy has become romantically interested in Julie Harper, an anthropologist studying gorillas in a nearby rain forest. When the news arrives that rebel terrorists are heading for the rain forest to capture gorillas to trade for weapons, Dr. Tracy rushes to the camp to save Julie; but both are captured. Rowbotham, fleeing the preserve in fear of the animals, drives into the scene, not knowing that Clarence has hidden in the back seat of his car. Clarence helps defeat the terrorists and save Dr. Tracy and ...
Dr. Marsh Tracy and his teenaged daughter, Paula, are working in an African game preserve when a harmless lion begins to wander through the villages, frightening the natives. Dr. Tracy traps the lion, examines him, and discovers that the cross-eyed animal cannot see well enough to hunt. Paula names the lion Clarence, and the two become great friends. Paula's British tutor, Rupert Rowbotham, is terrified of Clarence and the other animals on the preserve--Doris the chimpanzee and Mary Lou the python. Meanwhile, Dr. Tracy has become romantically interested in Julie Harper, an anthropologist studying gorillas in a nearby rain forest. When the news arrives that rebel terrorists are heading for the rain forest to capture gorillas to trade for weapons, Dr. Tracy rushes to the camp to save Julie; but both are captured. Rowbotham, fleeing the preserve in fear of the animals, drives into the scene, not knowing that Clarence has hidden in the back seat of his car. Clarence helps defeat the terrorists and save Dr. Tracy and Paula.
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