First off, nobody is ever going to see this film; I'd be surprised if it was still in NBC's archive. Second, nobody is ever going to read this review. Thirdly, it's a documentary, so there really isn't a spoiler issue, but just to be clear, SPOILERS follow.
Jack loved to take home movies with those clunky 8mm cameras back in the 50s and 60s. He'd write the narration, and then do the narration. I remember seeing this movie on TV back in the day, and it was intelligent, warm, and funny.
He had a pet lion cub, Amani. Apparently, she was a cub of Elsa, the lioness featured in the movie Born Free. His family kept her as a big kitten, and that's how she behaved, and was a member of the family.
I remember part of the show had to do with her reticence around strangers, with the notable exception of former baseball player and sports commentator Joe Garagiola. Everybody pronounced his last name GARE-uh-gee-OH-la, but Jack for some reason insisted upon guh-RAH-gee-oh-la.
Anyway, footage showed him sitting on a couth, with Amani fawning all over his bald head. Couldn't get enough of him. She'd play in his lap, and stayed very close to him. She was just adorable.
I remember the emotional punch when Jack told us that Amani had contracted some disease and died while very young.
I've always liked Jack Paar because of this show. He was a bright and engaging man, and greatly improved the content of television overall. This show was an example of that.
Jack loved to take home movies with those clunky 8mm cameras back in the 50s and 60s. He'd write the narration, and then do the narration. I remember seeing this movie on TV back in the day, and it was intelligent, warm, and funny.
He had a pet lion cub, Amani. Apparently, she was a cub of Elsa, the lioness featured in the movie Born Free. His family kept her as a big kitten, and that's how she behaved, and was a member of the family.
I remember part of the show had to do with her reticence around strangers, with the notable exception of former baseball player and sports commentator Joe Garagiola. Everybody pronounced his last name GARE-uh-gee-OH-la, but Jack for some reason insisted upon guh-RAH-gee-oh-la.
Anyway, footage showed him sitting on a couth, with Amani fawning all over his bald head. Couldn't get enough of him. She'd play in his lap, and stayed very close to him. She was just adorable.
I remember the emotional punch when Jack told us that Amani had contracted some disease and died while very young.
I've always liked Jack Paar because of this show. He was a bright and engaging man, and greatly improved the content of television overall. This show was an example of that.
