Is it true that Alfred Hitchcock took off the famous MGM screensaver? Is there a truthful photo with a lion rope for shooting? Is it true that the lion is biting his trainer? We checked the authenticity of these three stories.

Is it true that after filming a lion biting his trainer?

For more than ten years, the story has been going on on social networks that the lion from the MGM screensaver killed his owner the day after filming. One of the earliest and most popular posts we found on VKontakte, published June 18, 2011 in the public "Interesting facts!" and collected more than 2300 likes and 780 reposts. Probably the most spread of this plot was contributed to the public “Do you know?”: There in a few years appeared at least 13 posts about the murder of a person with a lion from the screensaver MGM, one Of these, more than 36,000 likes and 11,000 reposts. There is another version, according to which the deceased was not the owner, but trainer or coach predator. For example, in the community of STAY it Placed June 15, 2011, the record collected 1800 likes and 520 reposts. In addition, such posts You can meet On Twitter.

We could not find any evidence or evidence that any of the many lions that starred in the MGM scores was involved in fatal incidents. Professional trainers worked with all these animals, widely known in the field of show business and whose death as a result of an attack by a lion would become noticeable news. Apparently, the source of the false fact was the Factropolis.com site, where is similar news released April 18, 2010. There, the story is presented as follows: "The lion used in the original logo of the MGM film studio killed his trainer and two assistants the day after the end of the filming."

The first lion to appear in the screensaver, was Slates. His image was used until 1928, while he did not growl in the logo. Cooked Slates Wave Feifer - one of the main ones Hollywood trainers of that time, who managed to work on many paintings by MGM studio. Reportedthat during the promotion around the country they became very close, so after the death of Slats in 1936, the Feifer sent the body of Leo to his farm in New Jersey, where he buried him. A grave was installed on the grave, and next grown Pine to "restrain the lion's spirit." Feifer himself He died in 1974.

History is not confirmed because Factropolis.com is a resource that has published fictional stories (last I went out April 30, 2010). This conclusion can be drawn from various sarcastic descriptions on the site, which Positions yourself like this: “Association of teachers, historians, scientists and researchers, designed to eliminate gaps in knowledge of society. We dig out the forgotten facts, correct historical mistakes, answer readers' questions and get a lot of pleasure from all this. ” For example, in the section "About the authors"It is indicated that a certain Sandra Weinstein" can squeeze out a fact from a piece of coal in dark closet with his eyes closed ", and Jamie Rogers" rummaged in garbage tanks in search of thrown books and magazines. " We could not find information about such real people, and all these photos of the editors turned out to be ordinary Stock Pictures. In addition, in the site of the site notedthat “there is no need to rely on any information found in Factropolis without independent verification” and that “the reliability of any information is not guaranteed”.

Add that in early September 2010 on the network appeared A video that captures the attack of a lion in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Then reportedthat the trainer was small injured, but he was soon discharged from the hospital. The representative of MGM Resorts stated that the man "is healthy and wants to return to work."

Satirical news

Is there a truthful photo with a tied rope during lion?

Since 2015, a photo has been distributed on the network, which shows a connected lion lying under a dropper on a strange table. At the same time, the head of the animal is in the hole of the black stand with the famous emblem of the MGM studio. Most often, the picture is signed as follows: “The return side of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer”. According to the search "VKontakte", on social networks More than a hundred Such posts that have received more than a thousand likes. For example, in the public "Borsch" recording with a photo Received 24,000 likes and 2700 reposts. Also a photo with the same or similar signature diverged on Twitter (examples here, here And here), and you can also find examples of posts in English (for example, on sites 9GAG And Imgur).

In fact, what is happening in the original picture is in no way connected with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer screensaver. Thanks to the opposite search for the picture, we found an unredrined photo, and there is no MGM studio emblem on it. According to The Telegraph, it shows Samson - a two -year -old lion, passing computed tomography at Jewish University in Jerusalem.

The original pictures of Samson. Site page screenshot. Source

Leo under anesthesia photographed in 2005. Then the zoo carers found that Samson suddenly stopped walking, after which the Israeli Veterinary Medicine School of Veterinary Medicine Korut were invited. After a neurological examination and tomography, it turned out that due to the abnormal growth of the skull, there was a pressure on that part of the brain that was vital for performing motor functions. As a result unique The six -hour operation was removed part of the thickened tissue of the skull, and ten days later Samson reunited in the zoo with his sister Dalila. Supposedthat the vice of the development of the skull could be caused by a deficiency of vitamin A and other factors associated with life in captivity.

Samson after the operation. Site page screenshot. Source

Apparently, the altered photo appeared on the Picabu, where March 20, 2015 laid out Real photo with the signature "Leo on tomography." The next day in the comments user Corylus Shared a version with a Logo MGM logo and allowed use the picture in another post that appeared A few hours after the initial commentary. Just then the signature “Reverse Party” arose, however, the post had a “Humor” tag and a link to a real photo. And judging by the quality of editing, the work was hastily and without intent to deceive someone. Later about humorous post told In the public “Picabu” in VKontakte, but there was a link to the original picture. Most likely, later someone posted a changed photo without explanation, and subsequently took it for the present.

Satirical news

Is it true that MGM was removed by Alfred Hitchcock?

According to the popular myth, the director of the cult screensaver was precisely this British filmmaker. The proof is a photo in which Hitchcock seems to lead a lion on the set. On this black and white picture in front of the animal there is a microphone and lighting device, and next to the folding chair with the inscription "Alfred Hitchcock" with his back to the photographer sits. According to Internet publications, the photo was taken in 1958. For example, such a post You can find In the official public "Beeline Russia" on VKontakte, as well as this picture with the corresponding signature There is in many CHAVEwho have received thousands of likes. History is also widespread in English: for example, there are posts in Twitter, on Reddit And 9GAG.

In 2008, this is a photo It was exhibited In the Art Museum of Santa Barbara. Exposition dedicated to the American film industry of the 1920-1960s, It was called “Town in Hollywood: Photos from the John Cobal Foundation (Made in Hollywood: Photographs from the John Kobal Foundation). The author of the picture is a photographer Clarence Sincla on BullHe worked on MGM for about 40 years. His name is indicated on the website of the John Kobal Foundation, as well as in the lower left corner and on the back of the picture. We don’t know exactly how Bull created a photo (perhaps this is installation), but it is really called “Alfred Hitchcock with a lion MGM” and dates back to 1958 (the date is indicated in the same way on the site and on the back).

In the entire history, several lions participated in the filming of the MGM studio, so exists Many of it are different options. Probably the most famous of the Lviv was Leo, whose image Used Since 1957 Until 2021 years. Accordingly, if the photo of Hitchcock with a lion was taken in 1958, and the screensaver with Leo was filmed at least in 1957, then the British director could not be its author.

In addition to the picture in which Hitchcock seems to lead Leo's acting, you can find other similar photos. The director is on them Conducts With the king of animals tea ceremony, Rides With him in a car through the territory of MGM studio, Sitting Before the movie screen or for workers table. On various sites it is indicated that these pictures are dated about 1957-1959. Countsthat this is a series of promotion for advertising the film "North through the north-west"(1959), the only picture of Hitchcock released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Filming just Passed In 1958.

It should be noted that the director is connected with the lions, not only thanks to the film "To the north through the north-west." January 12, 1958 took place The release of the 15th episode of the third season of the television series anthology "Alfred Hitchcock represents"Under the name"Together". In the epilogue, Hitchcock appeared in the frame with a lion lying on the table.