The Born Free story is largely his; drawing heavily from his detailed journals, Joy wrote the 1960 best-seller Born Free, followed by 11 other books. He wrote two, as well.

Most 12-year-olds don’t have much life experience in military executions, so Hamrick had to draw on his own sense of panic and confusion at the situation to nail the part.

The "Born Free: Birth in America" documentary was released 15 years after Ricki Lake's "The Business of Being Born" and shows how things have only gotten worse.

"Born Free" is a heart-warming story of a British couple in Africa who, at the maturity of their pet lioness, educate the beast to survive in the bush.