Loomis Dean/TIME & LIFE Pictures
In its February 12, 1951, issue, LIFE ran a story about Humeston’s travails in finding Fagan a home, and the piece caught the eye of a producer at MGM named Sidney Franklin Jr. (Yes, MGM is the studio with a lion for a logo.) Amused, Franklin had a movie script written about the private and his pet. The film required a lion, so he brought Fearless Fagan back to California — only this time, the animal would live in Hollywood. Above: Fagan almost takes off Franklin’s head.
