Androcles and the Lion (1952)

Director:

Chester Erskine

Writers:

Ken Englund (writer)
Chester Erskine (writer)

Release Date:

9 January 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Story of a Christian in ancient Rome who befriends a lion.

Plot Keywords:

Arena | Colosseum | Fight To The Death | Lion | Sword And Sandal

Cast

Jean Simmons	...	Lavinia
Victor Mature	...	Captain
Alan Young	...	Androcles
Robert Newton	...	Ferrovius
Maurice Evans	...	Caesar
Elsa Lanchester	...	Megaera
Reginald Gardiner	...	Lentulus (courtier)
Gene Lockhart	...	Menagerie keeper
Alan Mowbray	...	Editor of gladiators
Noel Willman	...	Spintho
John Hoyt	...	Cato (secret police)
Jim Backus	...	Centurion
Lowell Gilmore	...	Metellus (courtier)
Woody Strode	...	The Lion

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

American feature film debut for Jean Simmons.

Movie Connections:

Features The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)

Watered down for the box office

This 1952 film was the first film version of a George Bernard Shaw play produced after the playwright's death, and the compromises are already obvious.

Shaw had had artistic control over three films produced from his plays-- the 1938 "Pygmalion", "Major Barbara" (1941) and "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945), and his influence had clearly been felt, some would say for both good and bad. He had had absolute final say-so over the casting, and, after his experience with "Pygmalion", Shaw became somewhat more demanding and insisted that not a word be cut from both "Major Barbara" and "Caesar and Cleopatra", a decision that resulted in both of these excellent films being flops. "Androcles and the Lion" clocks in at less than two hours.

The casting suffers without Shaw's influence. Because this is an RKO release directed by Chester Erskine, a not especially distinguished American director, the cast features two American actors in major roles, and the clash between their style of acting, and that of the British actors who HAVE had experience with Shaw, is apparent. Some other American actors can be seen in bit roles.

In a blatant effort to court the average movie audience who wouldn't recognize a Shaw play if it hit them in the face, movie hunk Victor Mature (yes, the very same actor who appeared in "The Robe" and "Samson and Delilah") is cast in the somewhat demanding role of a Roman captain trying to understand the Christian martyrs. An actor like James Mason or Stewart Granger might have been perfect and would have had the necessary acting ability, but Mature, although apparently trying hard, comes close to wrecking the film and destroying its Shavian flavor. And he gets second billing!

Alan Young, whom most people will remember as Wilbur from the "Mr.Ed" TV series, is also American, but is a far better actor than Mature, and although his style sometimes seems as if it straight out of a sitcom rather than a Shaw play, Young does quite a good job in the all-important lead role of Androcles. But was it the Hollywood adaptors, or is it REALLY Shaw who gave the lion the endearing name of "Tommy"? Or is that just another sop to the movie-going crowd who loves animals with cute names?

The rest of the cast is just fine--Jean Simmons excellent, and not syrupy, as a devout woman willing to face martyrdom in the arena, Robert Newton, hilarious as a hulking strongman converted to Christianity who can barely be kept from singlehandedly demolishing his enemies, Noel Willman, Elsa Lanchester in the brief role of Androcles' wife, and, in his best screen performance, Maurice Evans (Dr. Zaius in the 1968 "Planet of the Apes") as the Roman emperor. They make this film exactly what it should be.