Running time 167 minutes Producer Fred Rees Editor Fred Rees | Country United Kingdom Executive producer John Taylor | |
Directed by Duncan Humphreys
Fred Rees Release date November 29, 1999 (1999-11-29) Initial release 29 November 1999 (United Kingdom) Directors Duncan Humphreys, Fred Rees Cast Ian McGeechan, Jim Telfer, Martin Johnson, Will Greenwood, Keith Wood | ||
Living with Lions is a documentary that was released on video (and later DVD) that follows the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.
The film concentrates on the backroom effort, with less attention paid to the on-field rugby. The film balances pain of various injuries to Rob Howley, Will Greenwood and Doddie Weir, the tensions within the camp (Barry Williams fighting with Mark Regan), the humour of John Bentley's visit to the gym, and finally jubilation after victory in the second test.
The documentary only goes to the end of the second test. Due to its success, a follow-up documentary Living With The Lions 2 - The Final Week was produced. Both films are included in the DVD.
For the 2001 tour to Australia, another documentary was produced. However, the Lions lost that tour, and there were suggestions that it had been censored to edit out the fact that the players (especially Austin Healey) were displeased with the coach, Graham Henry.