It was produced by Ivan Tors, directed by James Neilson and written by Edward J. Lakso and Andy White.

The film stars Clint Howard, Dennis Weaver, Vera Miles, Ralph Meeker, Huntz Hall, and Bruno the Bear.

[1] The film was also the pilot for the CBS TV series, Gentle Ben (1967–69), based on the same characters and also starring Clint Howard, Dennis Weaver, and Bruno.

[4][5] The film is a prequel to the TV series, providing the backstory of how the boy Mark Wedloe met Ben the bear, tamed him and adopted him as a companion.

[7] Tom (Dennis Weaver) and Ellen Wedloe (Vera Miles) live with their young son Mark (Clint Howard) near a Florida game reserve.

While still hidden in the tree, Mark watches, horrified, as a gang of poachers, led by local fisherman and bully Fog Hanson (Ralph Meeker), illegally shoot the mother bear and capture the cub.

Gentle Giant was another in a line of animal films for family audiences made by Ivan Tors during the 1960s, several of which spawned television series.

[10] The original Walt Morey novel was set in Alaska and involved a brown bear native to that state.

Filming was done at Ivan Tors' studio,[10] in Miami,[9] in the fishing town of Port Salerno, Florida (P.O.

Smith's Grocery, a local landmark, was shown in the film),[12] in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,[1] and at locations in the Everglades.

Rosaire Sr. named the bear "Gentle Ben" and exhibited it for years after the film at circuses, talk shows and other events.