A story of the world's first female tiger trainer who claimed her love for her tigers was so great she wanted to die in the ring. Raised in poverty in Kentucky, Mabel Stark joined the circus in 1911 and became the first woman to train tigers, earning the center ring despite being told that women couldn't work the big cats. In a 57-year career, she headlined shows with Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey, survived multiple maulings and marriages, starred in Hollywood movies, and managed up to 20 cats by forming intimate relationships with each, rather than using the whip. Her life ended tragically just outside of Jungleland in Thousand Oaks, CA, and her legacy and the golden era of the American circus is recounted by former animal trailers, performers and historian Janet Davis, with Mabel's voice, from her memoir "Hold That Tiger", provided by Oscar ®-winner Melissa Leo.
Leslie Zemeckis
Writer
Leslie Zemeckis
Director
Melissa Leo
Narrator
Children of the Chinese Circus
2006
Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Bikaner, Lucknow, Benares, Nepal and Great Tiger Shoot
1922
People on the Road
1960
Back To Africa
2008
Guantanamo Circus
2013
Chuy, The Wolf Man
2015
Wandering Tigers in North India
1935
Siberian Tiger, The Secret Kingdom
2023
A CLOWN | A LIFE
2022
A Farra do Circo
2013
Cirque du Bizarre
2008
Uti
1925