Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion

Synopsis of Movie

Combining jungle adventures with slapstick comedy, Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion was an African safari for the whole family.

At the start of the film, Dr. Marsh Tracy, head of an animal behavior research center, travels to East Africa with his daughter Paula. While there, Dr. Tracy captures a lion whose crossed eyes have made it impossible to hunt for food. The great cat turns out to be a real sweetie, and Paula adopts him as her own, naming him Clarence.

Dr. Tracy himself is also captured (the heart part of him, at least) by the lovely anthropologist Julie Harper, who is studying gorilla life. The human/animal foursome start to bond into an unorthodox family, but a band of mercenaries interrupts their happiness when they show up to poach the gorillas. Thankfully, Clarence is still a lion at heart, and the king of the jungle gets a chance to earn his keep in the family’s defense.

Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion was only a modest success in theaters, but the lion and his adopted family found a more welcome home on the small screen. The film served as the basis for the popular CBS television series, Daktari, which ran from 1966-1969.

Movie Release History

1965 - Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion

Movie Sub Categories

live-action
action/adventure
drama

Movie Studio

MGM

Cast

Doctor Marsh Tracy Marshall Thompson
Julie Harper Betsy Drake
Rupert Rowbotham Richard Haydn
Paula Cheryl Miller
Carter Alan Caillou
Juma Rockne Tarkington
Gragory Maurice Marsac
Sergeant Robert DoQui
Husseini Albert Amos
Dinny Dinny Powell
Larson Mark Allen
Tourist Laurence Conroy
Tourist's Wife Allison Daniell
Girl in Pit Janee Michelle
Villager Naaman Brown

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