The movie “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion” was released in 1965. It narrates the story of a veterinarian in Africa who, along with his daughter, cares for a cross-eyed lion, befriends other animals, and gains knowledge about local wildlife. The key players are Marshall Thompson as Dr. Marsh Tracy, Betsy Drake as Julie Harper, and Richard Haydn as Rupert Rowbotham.
Where it Filmed?
Miami, Florida’s Greenwich Studios served as the filming location for “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion.” Located at 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard, the shooting took place on the date of September 14, 1964.
Cast Details
| Cast Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Marshall Thompson | Dr. Marsh Tracy |
| Betsy Drake | Julie Harper |
| Richard Haydn | Rupert Rowbotham |
| Cheryl Miller | Paula Tracy |
| Alan Caillou | Carter |
| Rockne Tarkington | Juma |
| Maurice Marsac | Gregory |
| Robert DoQui | Sergeant |
| Albert Amos | Husseini |
| Dinny Powell | Dixey |
| Mark Allen | Larson |
| Laurence Conroy | Tourist |
| Janee Michelle | Girl in Pit |
| Naaman Brown | Villager |
| Napoleon Whiting | Villager |
| Chester Jones | Old Man |
| Clarence | Clarence – the lion |
| Doris | The chimpanzee |
| Leo | Clarence – when aggressive |
| Mary Lou | The python |
| Modoc | Elephant (uncredited) |
Trivia and Facts
- Ivan Tors first discovered Clarence at “Africa, U.S.A.”, a training compound based in Soledad Canyon, close to Los Angeles.
- Clarence was unique due to his cross-eyed condition, which inspired Ivan Tors to create the film and its spin-off series “Daktari” in 1966.
- Audiences saw Clarence’s perspective in double vision, aligning with his physical condition.
- Clarence was reportedly very good with children.
- Another lion named Leo served as Clarence’s double in some aggressive and general scenes.
- Leo hailed from a family in Utah and became aggressive due to early mistreatment.
- A goof in the movie: The elephant at the start of the film is an Asian Elephant, not an African Elephant as it should have been based on the movie’s African setting.
- The movie opens the way for the series “Daktari” in 1966.
Geo Location Details
- Location Name: Greenwich Studios – 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA
- Latitude: 25.8285049
- Longitude: -80.1869486
- Place ID: ChIJ8eO-6JWz2YgR24sFdSPkugI
- Map Link: Google Map
- Place Address: 5700 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137, USA
- Timezone: America/New_York
