The Dark Truth Behind The Most Dangerous Movie Of All Time, Tippi Hedren’s ‘Roar’

The adventure comedy Roar, directed and produced by Noel Marshall in 1981, is tagged the most dangerous movie due to its risky and unconventional production methods. It incorporates real wild animals like lions, tigers, and jaguars alongside the cast. The film tells the story of a naturalist, Hanks, portrayed by Marshall himself, living peacefully amidst African wildlife until his family—Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith, and Marshall’s sons, John and Jerry—visited, sparking chaotic encounters with the untamed beasts.

Despite its bold premise, Roar initially failed commercially, partly due to production delays and exceeding budgets. Recently, the movie sparked public interest following Tippi Hedren’s dementia diagnosis, which has erased the memories of her career. This resurgence has prompted fans to reflect on the challenges she confronted during the film’s tumultuous production.

The production of ‘Roar’ came with many challenges

The production of the movie posed significant challenges. It was marked by numerous intense encounters between the human family and the animal characters, many of which were not staged. This led to disturbing injuries, with approximately 70 members of the cast and crew suffering various injuries during filming.

RELATED: Hollywood Icon Tippi Hedren ‘Has No Memory Of Acting Career’ As She Battles Dementia

Notably, Melanie Griffith’s face was mauled, necessitating plastic surgery. Hedren experienced gangrene and required skin grafts, as well as being thrown by an elephant, resulting in one of the film’s most memorable scenes but also causing her to suffer a broken leg. Director Marshall himself faced repeated maulings, contracted blood poisoning, and narrowly avoided losing a limb at one point.

Noel Marshall claimed ‘Roar’ left him with nightmares

In a 1975 interview with The Montreal Gazette, Marshall disclosed that the production of Roar posed significant risks to the safety and well-being of him and his family and brought a financial strain, ultimately leading the family to sell their home. “You get into anything slowly. We have been on this project now for five years,” he admitted. “Everything we own, everything we have achieved, is tied up in it. Today, we’re 55 percent complete. We’re at a point where we just have to do it.”

The producer, who has since passed away, emphasized the film’s lingering impact on the cast and crew based on their harrowing experiences with the untamed wildlife. “Tippi and Melanie kind of want to forget about the whole thing,” he confessed.” I still get nightmares when I watch Roar, so I don’t see it too often.”