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Androcles And The Lion (1952)
Released By: Nelson Entertainment   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Nelson Entertainment
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Chester Erskine
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Alan Young, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature
Published ID: 1533
UPC: N/A
Plot: With George Bernard Shaw safely in his grave, RKO chief Howard Hughes had no qualms about twisting and bending Shaw's {+Androcles & the Lion} to accommodate his own notions of entertainment. Happier, wiser heads prevailed before the Hughes-commissioned Vestal Virgins sequence, complete with near-naked dancing girls, was foisted on the public. Originally, Harpo Marx was to have played Androcles, the simple-hearted Christian tailor whose friendship with a lion saves himself and his friends from martyrdom in the Roman Colosseum. A few days into shooting, however, Harpo was replaced by Alan Young, who was okay but not in Marx's league. RKO habitués Jean Simmons and Victor Mature co-star as, respectively, a courageous Christian girl and the bullheaded Roman captain who falls in love with her. Every Shaw play has one character who acts as the playwright's alter ego; in {+Androcles}, it's none other than Caesar himself, here wittily essayed by Maurice Evans. Director Chester Erskine co-adapted the play for the screen with Ken Englund; serving as producer was Gabriel Pascal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
What a GOOD Movie!
Added 7/26/2003

This movie is highly entertaining and very funny. I had laughed at some scenes in this movie. Even kids will enjoy this movie.
"Androcles and the Lion" is about a meek tailor befriending a lion by removing a thorn out of his paw (his mean wife ran away though). Androcles named the lion "Tommy". The tailor, Androcles, gets captured by the Roman army because he's a Christian, and makes friends with a beautiful woman and a burly man named Fevvorus (sp?), among other Christians with them. The beautiful woman, named Lavina, falls in love with a Roman Captain (played by Victor Mature), but she still keeps her faith in God. Later when all the Christians arrived at the Colluseum where the fighting to kill the Christian men, and the lions are for the ladies to die, Fevvorus slays all the fighters and won the affections of Ceaser. Androcles was picked to be killed by the lions...and guess who he met? The lion named Tommy! Ceaser gets impressed once more because Tommy and Androcles danced together in the arena and the lion is tame. :) Ceaser finally lets all the Christians go free, Fevvorus gets to be a guard at the palace, and Tommy and Androcles walk the streets together at the end.
Very good movie and it's highly recommended!

8 out of 8 people found this helpful.
Androcles The Great
Added 7/14/2003

This Hollywood adaptation of Shaw's play came as a very pleasant surprise indeed since as Shaw's plays are always about ideas, I was gratified to see those outlined in the play were faithfully retained in the film. It is also one of Shaw's wittiest tracts on behalf of his abiding belief in animal rights, (the theological debate about whether animals have souls being retained and convincingly presented), as well as his mistrust of any religious dogma that isn't constantly on the side of the here-and-now and the Life Force. Although obvious budget constraints show here and there, all concerned certainly display a grasp of what Shaw was trying to say, and acquit themselves with distinction in all department. Full of Shavian irony and compassion, (the sadness and poignancy in Shaw's work is seldom noted these days), it turns accepted values upside down and helps you on the road to thinking laterally and, hopefully, autonomously. Subversive stuff as always with Shaw! Highly recommended.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Very entertaining movie
Added 3/7/1999

A very funny, entertaining black and white movie. It's quite lively and I would recomend it!
4 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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