While filming in Africa in 1969, Hedren and her husband saw an abandoned house which had been taken over and inhabited by lions. On their return to America, they were determined to make a film about — and with — lions, based on what they had witnessed, and to raise awareness of the endangered status of lions.

Animal trainer Ron Oxley advised them that “to get to know anything about lions, you’ve just got to live with them for a while.” Hedren and her husband did exactly that, introducing lions to their residential home.

Following complaints, the family and the animals moved to a remote California ranch.