Exciting news! For those of you living in the United States, all four seasons of Daktari are now available on Tubi, a free streaming service.
If you are unable to stream on your TV, you can watch it on your computer, tablet or phone by visiting Tubi.com and signing up for an account.
I’ve watched several episodes already and am focusing on Season 4 which I have not viewed since I was a kid. It’s actually not as bad as I remembered it. Erin Moran is sweet as Jenny and I really like the relationship she has with Dr. Tracy. I could do though without Ross Hagen – his character of Bart Jason is not likable. I miss Yale Summers! Fortunately I can watch older episodes to get my dose of him. 🙂
Let us know what episodes you are watching and enjoying. Remember to check out our excellent Episode Guide.
Daktari was a spin-off from Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion, a movie in which Marshall Thompson starred and collaborated on the script with Alan Caillou.
The Movie
Before Daktari was broadcast on American television for the first time in 1966, it had already been a 1965 MGM feature film with the title Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion.
Ivan Tors first discovered Clarence at Africa USA, an affection training compound located in Soledad Canyon about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. Born cross-eyed, Clarence’s strange physical condition inspired Ivan Tors to create the feature film.
Because of his unusual condition, Clarence was almost given away as a cub. But Tors, who had a successful track record with animal pictures – Flipper (1963) and Rhino! (1964) – took an interest in the lion and decided he had star potential. “I’ve never seen a cross-eyed lion,” said Tors. “And neither has the rest of the world.”
The trainers even made Clarence a lion-sized pair of glasses which make a cameo appearance in the movie (they proved to be totally ineffective and were eventually discarded). Eventually, Clarence’s vision did improve.
Clarence stand-in
Another not so friendly lion named Leo doubled for Clarence in some scenes. He was used only for the snarling scenes and general scenes which didn’t involve close proximity with humans. Leo had come to Africa USA from a family in Utah. His ferocity was due in part to the mistreatment he received from former owners who reportedly beat him with a stick.
Cast members
Director Andrew Marton sets up the family-friendly history for the series: the veterinary surgeon Dr. Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson) leading the animal research station Wameru Study Center in East Africa with his daughter Paula (Cheryl Miller), whose favourite animal is a python (Mary Lou). The film also starred Betsy Drake as a Dian Fossey-inspired love interest. Clarence is soon adopted by Paula and later saves the day when Drake and her research gorillas are threatened by poachers.
Richard Haydn (from Sound of Music) plays a bumbling tutor. (co-screenwriter) plays the local District Officer – again a character that was replicated as Hedley in the series.
Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion was an excellent family-oriented animal adventure film with plenty of human interaction and comedy.
Marshall Thompson is really convincing as the head of the animal study compound who, as a widow, must take care of his teenage daughter Paula who is a bit of tom-boy but is growing up into a woman (she tapes her stockings to her thighs with masking tape to hold them up).
Betsy Drake (the former Mrs. Cary Grant) is Julie Harper who is the romantic interest for Dr. Tracy. Richard Haydn is excellent as the comic relief Rupert Rowbotham.
Add some wrestling with wild cheetahs, a few dangerous gorilla poachers, the antics of Doris the chimpanzee (Judy) and, of course, Clarence and what you have is one of the most consistently entertaining of the African animal adventure films.
The movie was a mixture of safaris, animals and adventure with some humour. A particular technique used during the film was showing the world from the view of the cross eyed lion. Authentic film footage of gorillas, shot in their natural habitat, adds to the realism.
Success leads to Daktari
The original movie was such a large public success that it led actor Marshall Thompson together with experienced producer Ivan Tors to continue the format in television as Daktari.
Here is a slide show of pictures from the movie. You can order Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion from Amazon.
Mine is from Season 2, called “Terror in the Bush.” This is why I was so excited when the announcement came from Warner Archives that they were releasing the complete second season on DVD (see here for more information).
First of all, “Terror in the Bush” featured my favorite character front and center: Paula Tracy. In the episode, she and Marsh are out on a training run. He is determined to teach his daughter to be responsible when all she really wants is to just be like every other girl her age. He reminds her that no every girl lives in Africa. Paula has not prepared well for the trip and many vital supplies are missing. She even scolded Judy unfairly for emptying out the medical kit when in fact Marsh had done it to teach her the necessity of check and double check.
All a hint that something bad was about to happen …
As Paula, Marsh and Judy started for home, the jeep struck a log and flipped over. Everyone was knocked out but Marsh was the most seriously injured with a concussion and a badly broken leg.
What few supplies were on hand had been destroyed in the crash and Paula had to rely on her wits, strength and resourceful thinking to bring her father to safety.
As a kid and as an adult
When I was ten, I loved this episode because it made Paula a heroine. It was exciting watching her do everything she could to save her father.
I still love this episode, perhaps even more now, because of the wonderful messages contained therein:
A young woman comes of age, showing incredible guts, self-control and quick thinking.
A daughter risks her life to save her beloved father
A father cares enough for his daughter to teach her to be strong, independent and responsible.
A father and daughter share a close and loving relationship.
Getting the message across
These are simple but important messages and the best part is, the writers use the story to impart them rather than pontificate about them. This is Daktari’s charm to me – in its gentle and unassuming way, the show conveys wonderful themes that are beneficial to children and good reminders for adults.
Sure, Daktari’s story lines are simplistic, the show’s pacing is very slow and the characters can be two-dimensional. But the scenery is beautiful, the themes universal and timely, the graphics in the opening sequence still cool and the music, cutting edge for that time.
In comparison with other popular shows
My husband and I have had a hankering lately for 60s shows since he got The Invaders with Roy Thinnes for Christmas. We traded in a bunch of DVDs and bought the second season of Bewitched starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, and The Adventures of Superman with George Reeves. We also have I Dream of Jeannie starring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman.
For the sake of laughs
Bewitched is still just as funny as it was in the 60s. I must say though that it is horrifying to see Samantha continually give up her identity as a witch just because her husband demands it of her, and often he is not appreciative of the difficulty of her task or the effort she makes. I’m no militant feminist but I do believe that each person, man or woman, deserves to be accepted for who they are.
This storyline is essential to the conflict in Bewitched that creates the funny situations. And the same is true with I Dream of Jeannie – goodness, a genie in a sexy costume is a slave to Tony, her master who doesn’t even want what makes Jeannie unique! Sets back the accomplishments of the women’s movement back fifty years. 🙂
Why Daktari ages well
The only point I’m trying to make is this: shows from the 60s often don’t age well and it’s not just the clothes, cars and the ancient technology. Daktari remains timely for me because it promotes themes that never age. I will be more than happy to save these DVDs for the days when I have grandchildren to share them with.
More power to girls like Paula! And kudos to fathers like Marsh who teach their daughters to be all they can be.
Here are some screen captures from the episode showing the many ways that Paula was a heroine in saving her father:
Dad and daughter discuss responsibility …
Marsh is seriously injured in the jeep wreck.
Paula is very concerned for her father …
who suffers from a concussion and broken leg.
Paula can tell Marsh is getting a fever but she has no water …
so she gathers bark she knows is wet and cool …
to set on her father’s forehead to cool the fever.
Paula must build a mat to carry her father to safey. Judy comforts her.
from preview clip of Daktari The Complete Second Season on DVD from Warner Archives
I got my copy of Daktari The Complete Second Season today in the mail and just finished watching the first episode, “The Return of Clarence” where Clarence lost his memory. He tried to attack Paula and she fell into a pit with a leopard! When Marsh and Jack finally found her (thanks to Clarence), Marsh had a fierce fight with the leopard. Pretty exciting!
I am pretty impressed with the quality of these DVDs considering they are made on demand. The packaging and discs are very attractive and II only had to wait a few days for the DVDs to arrive.
They are pricey but it’s so worth it being able to watch my favorite show again after all these years.
Without this technology of one-offs, we wouldn’t have this show available again for new generations.
Daktari TV Show 