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Androcles and the Lion

Released Oct 30, 1952 1h 38m Comedy List
43% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 48% Audience Score 50+ Ratings
Based on George Bernard Shaw's play, an adaptation of the classic folktale, this film follows Androcles (Alan Young), a slave in Ancient Rome who has escaped his bonds and fled into the wilderness. A devoted Christian with an unparalleled level of compassion, he seeks to aid any who need assistance -- even a wild lion with a thorn in its paw. While the move to remove the thorn may seem foolhardy, Androcles' kindness is later repaid in the blood-stained ring of the Colosseum. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety Bernard Shaw's satirical comedy on Romans and Christians provides the basis for a fair film offering. Picture is a curious mixture of basic comedy and Shavian wit. Mar 4, 2015 Full Review Tom Milne Time Out [A] pompously stagebound and unhappily cast spectacular. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Bosley Crowther New York Times The intellectual content of the drama suffers from staging that is dull; the fantasy and drollery of it seem curiously clumsy and slow. Mar 25, 2006 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine ...much of the GBS wit, however, survives the grandiose movie expansion. Jean Simmons, as the wise and lovely Lavinia, is a joy to behold. Dec 2, 2019 Full Review Virginia Graham The Spectator Bernard Shaw's irreverent views on Christianity, so brilliantly expounded in that exceptionally poor play of his, Androcles and the Lion, have, in Gabriel Pascal's even poorer adaptation, lost a deal of their original sharpness. Jun 19, 2018 Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times The imported British supporting cast, including Robert Newton, behave like fish out of water under Chester Erskine's shambolic direction. Rated: 3/5 Mar 4, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
Audience Member The title character is played very 'camp' and there's a lot of humour in this film because of it. The higher billed actors share a broody love story and it takes a while for the group to reach their martyrdom day which is the crux of the film. It's all very watchable though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member A good movie based on the play of the same name Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Well, it's fairly overwrought, preachy, and inappropriately silly but I suppose it's still a fun watch. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member The production design and direction are unimaginative but this is loaded with wonderful performances from both the American actors as well as the great cast of English thespians who have a wonderful time with Shaw's witty dialogue. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Super-gentle, super-beautiful, super-strong Christians, full of super good humor. In other words, totally unlike Christians today. But surely the early Christians became Christians because they were so miserable, so used to suffering. And surely the Romans never gave them so many opportunities not to be martyred. But the ending is pleasant enough, except for the tripe about compromise/prudence (though the synthesis may well be the Christians corrupting Rome, and Rome corrupting the Christians--indeed, the only already synthesized/compromised Roman/Christian here is the only character killed off, and in neither Roman nor Christian fashion). Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Androcles and the Lion

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Androcles and the Lion

Androcles and the Lion (1952) Androcles and the Lion (1952) Androcles and the Lion (1952) Androcles and the Lion (1952) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Based on George Bernard Shaw's play, an adaptation of the classic folktale, this film follows Androcles (Alan Young), a slave in Ancient Rome who has escaped his bonds and fled into the wilderness. A devoted Christian with an unparalleled level of compassion, he seeks to aid any who need assistance -- even a wild lion with a thorn in its paw. While the move to remove the thorn may seem foolhardy, Androcles' kindness is later repaid in the blood-stained ring of the Colosseum.
Director
Chester Erskine
Producer
Gabriel Pascal
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 30, 1952, Limited
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 23, 2010
Runtime
1h 38m