The MGM lion

OK, so it being a fake is your opinion, right?

The only documented information about the picture I've seen states they set up a sound "studio" in the lion's cage.

 

If you don't see the split-screen, I bet the creators of the photograph would be very pleased that their effect is still fooling people 75 years later.

 

If true, poor lion.

 

That really is Jackie in the photo, I don't know about the rest of it being doctored.
I DO know that Jackie was shot silent for the logo and his roar was dubbed in later, after MGM sound pictures arrived in 1929. There were at least three noticeably different roars used until 1932-33.

 

Yes, I believe that was his mane point.

 

This lion, named George, was only used for a few movies in 1957-58.
All of the other lions are process shots. This is the only one where they tried this goofy idea (unless you count the lion shown here at 00:18).

 

Ha ha! Great comeback!

 

Oh my god, you out-punned me.

 

Opening of Strange Brew movie.

 

The Wikipedia article on the "MGM Lion" uses one of the fake photos then.

 

Then there is the more tamer lion image for 2001: A Space Odyssey:

 

Just saw it "live" on tv. Ice Station Zebra is on Finnish tv at the time of writing this.

 

This wouldn't be the first time Wikipedia was fooled. Think about it: would a live studio lion in a free space consent to being photographed and recorded. I believe they photographed the lion indoors in a cage, with black cloth in the back, and with the lens poked through the bars, and a trainer just out of camera range to coerce the lion to roar at the right moment. And knowing how these things were done, I bet it took hours and hours to get the right reaction.

 

I always assumed that photo was a publicity shot made by MGM at some point. I never really bought that it was the actual production of the logo. It seems contrived like so many pub shots of the day. It was so many years ago so who really knows the story behind that now anyway.

Dan c

 

Not necessarily, but I'm glad you're not a pawr loser.

I think you're purrfectly capable of finding a few more ...


Alright, I'll stop now. I think that's all I got.

 

That was a cat-tastrophy.

 

Easy, tiger ...

 

I'm really getting my fur up about this!

 

Could very well be...if you think the lion would leave the giant placard alone:
http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/c65test.htm

 

Skip ahead to about :20 seconds in on the following clip and see my personal favorite MGM Lion opening, which easily could also be my all-time favorite film logo opening credits, ever, for a company ...

 

Sorry for a slight thread derail, but, I thought that you guys might find the following video funny, as it gave me a laugh!

 

That's cool! I love it!

 

I have to say that I'm a sucker of those wonderful little film company logos and of the music that accompany them. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to come up with the music, that will be as effective as the companies histories are. The Walt Disney theme for one, so short and sweet is a really, really good one in my opinion. I also love the Warner Brothers opening that has the studio buildings waving like a flag, that turns into their shield logo, while playing a few seconds of "As Time Goes By" ..., VERY effective, in my opinion!



The one that needs a huge facelift is that 20th Century Fox opening. I actually like their shortened "Searchlight" logo opening much better, than the full Newman "20th", plus, we are now well into the 21st Century and they need to update their image.

 

The opening of DREAMWORKS is the worst, in my opinion! The animation is boring and the music just doesn't say anything to me, which is weird coming from a guy who usually uses the great John Williams to score his films. He apparently got the WRONG John Williams (the famous acoustic guitar player), to score his logo opening?

 

All the lions you'll ever need: