Lights, Cameras, Lions, a book by Hubert G Wells is a fascinating animal story about a man who's career involved the training and care of a great variety of exotic species. These were , largely, animals used in the entertainment industries, including motion pictures, television and live animal shows.
However the book is much more. It is a tale of a young man who escaped the oppression of cold war era Hungary and created a successful, unique and gratifying career in America. Yes, it is a very familiar story - the classical immigrant story - but in Hubert's case the work he chose to do has been mastered by relatively few people. His personal biography alone makes a good read, but the details of his animal subjects and what they did is gripping. Because I knew so many of the role players in the book, both human and animal, as a local veterinarian practitioner, it was meaningful to me , but I believe that most readers will be moved by the incidents and the individuals featured in this narrative.
Robert M Miller DVM author of : Yes , We treat aardvarks, stories of an extraordinary veterinary practice Understanding ancient secrets of the horses mind and many others
Dr. Robert M. Miller DVM (born March 4, 1927) is an equine behaviorist and veterinarian, best recognized for his system of training newborn foals known as imprint training. Dr. Miller is also one of the early adopters and promoters of Natural horsemanship. His work is often referred to by natural horsemanship clinicians. He has served as a judge in the annual Road to the Horse competition,[1] and also is a co-founder of the "Light Hands Horsemanship" concept and annual clinic.[2]
In his Lights, Camera, Lions Memoirs of a Real-life Doctor Dolittle—a wildly entertaining saga that takes us behind the scenes of Hollywood’s animal kingdom—author Hubert Geza Wells has delivered an unforgettable, irresistible true tale set in a world rarely visited. With self-effacing humor and vivid details, Wells brings to life his nearly four decades as one of the most in-demand animal trainers in the movie industry. Navigating what he calls the euphoric heights and infernal lows of this little known profession, his journey takes us from his roots training animals in Europe to coaching non-human stars--in movies/TV shows and live on stage, all across five continents--in order to hold their own alongside the likes of Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, and Carol Burnett. Working with a multitude of animal thespians—from ants to elephants—and specializing in lions and birds of prey, the author's raucous ride more than earns him the title of a real-life Dr. Doolittle. The magical moments of uncanny communication between Hubert and his animal actors should make this hugely fascinating memoir even more of a must-read for all audiences, especially those who love animals, movies, and great stories well-told.
MIM EICHNER RIVAS, author of the bestselling BEAUTIFUL JIM KEY: The Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World, and co-author of #1 New York Times Bestseller THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS with Chris Gardner, and the national bestseller FINDING FISH with Antwone Fisher