Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Categories: Animals | Celebrities |

Few people know that the famous actress Melanie Griffith at the age of 19 years lived in the same house with a huge lion named Neil. In the early 1970s, Melanie, her mother, actress Tippi Hedren, and her stepfather, director Noel Marshall, decided after a trip to Africa that they wanted to make a film about big predatory cats. The trainer suggested that they take a pet lion into their home so that they could better understand the animal, and the family agreed. Thanks to this, these amazing photos documenting the life with the lion have remained in the archives.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

When you look at these pictures, it seems that life with Neil was cloudless, but, alas, the shooting of the film "Roar" (Roar) was not so successful. Then one of the lionesses who took part in the film attacked Melanie, after which the girl had to put more than 50 stitches on her face, and the cameraman Jan de Bont received a head injury, and he needed surgery. As a result, in the process of filming, about 70 people were injured from the attack of predatory cats.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Melanie Griffith at the family pool with Neal in Sherman Oaks, California.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

The lion playfully bites the child's neck.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Neal grabs Melanie's leg while jumping into the pool.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Tippy is playing with Neal.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Neal was allowed not only to be in the pool, but also to lie on the bed.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Melanie and Neil sleep in the same bed in May 1971.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Hedren, known for her role in Hitchcock's The Birds, uses a lion as a pillow while reading a newspaper.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

They even wrestled playfully in the living room.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Fearless Tippy and sleeping Neal.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Joint raid to the refrigerator.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

The housekeeper steps over Neil, who is sniffing peacefully.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

An unexpected guest.

Incredible photos from the 70s: Melanie Griffith and Lev Neil

Noel Marshall tries to work in his office with Neil on his desk.

Later, Tippi Hedren created The Roar Foundation in California to educate the public about the dangers of private keeping of exotic animals to support the Shambhala Reserve, where Neal was placed.

Keywords: Animals | Celebrities | Lions | 70s | Predatory cats

     

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