Here is a clip from the 1982 flick “Beastmaster” :
At the 50 second mark, it shows the “black panther” with the Beastmanster.
It looks too big to be a leopard. Was that a tiger that they used?
Yep. Black dye job.
For some reason true melanism in tigers, if it exists at all, is exceedingly rare.
On the commentary they salute the brave fellow who had to do that job. No thanks!
It’s the dye of the tiger; it’s the thrill of the fight.