Movie spotlight
George Bernard Shaw’s breezy, delightful dramatization of this classic fable—about a Christian slave who pulls a thorn from a lion’s paw and is spared from death in the Colosseum as a result of his kind act—was written as a meditation on modern Christian values. Pascal’s final Shaw production is played broadly, with comic character actor Alan Young as the titular naïf. He’s ably supported by Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Robert Newton, and Elsa Lanchester.
In ancient Rome, Androcles, a timid Christian tailor, flees persecution and finds himself in the company of gladiators and a fearsome lion. He removes a thorn from the lion's paw, forging an unlikely bond. Later, both Androcles and the lion are brought before the Emperor to face their fate in the arena, testing the limits of faith and compassion.
The film received mixed to negative reviews, with many critics finding its tone uneven and its biblical themes heavy-handed. While some performances were noted, the overall production was considered disappointing compared to other biblical epics of the era.
Criticized for its didactic and often ponderous tone.
Performances were occasionally praised, but not enough to elevate the film.
Felt like a dated and uninspired attempt at a biblical epic.
Google audience: Audience reception information is not readily available.
Despite the film's serious themes and historical setting, it was released by RKO Radio Pictures, which was known for a variety of genres but not exclusively for major biblical epics.
AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources
No critic reviews have been posted yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
I think Charles Erskine has done pretty well with this entertaining adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw comedy. Escaping from his overbearing wife "Magaera" (Elsa Lanchester), "Androcles" (Alan Young) discovers a lion in the wilderness wi...
No video reviews found for this title yet.