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Story of a Christian in ancient Rome who befriends a lion.Story of a Christian in ancient Rome who befriends a lion.Story of a Christian in ancient Rome who befriends a lion.
Abdullah Abbas
- Gladiator
- (uncredited)
Doris Barton
- Vestal Virgin
- (uncredited)
Mary Bayless
- Christian
- (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg
- Christian
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAfter principal filming was completed, Howard Hughes decided the film needed some extra sprucing up. He had Nicholas Ray shoot a "Vestal Virgin Bathing Sequence" which immediately ran afoul with censors and enraged producer Gabriel Pascal, amongst others. The sequence was eventually deleted from release prints.
- GoofsThe Christians sing "Onward, Christian Soldiers" - a hymn published in 1871.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits prologue: ROME 161 A.D. IN THE REGION OF THE EMPEROR ANTONINUS
- ConnectionsFeatured in It's Showtime (1976)
- SoundtracksOnward, Christian Soldiers
(uncredited)
Music by Arthur Sullivan
Words by Sabine Baring-Gould
Sung by the marching Christians
Featured review
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A famously bad movie of a minor Shaw play, Androcles and the Lion isn't bad so long as one doesn't approach it expecting a sparkling and witty adaptation along the lines of Major Barbara. To be fair to producer Garbriel Pascal, who loved Shaw's work dearly, and director Chester Erskine, an experienced theatre man, the play wasn't that good to start with. In trying to make their picture look like a spectacle, and casting hunky Victor Mature in a major role, Pascal and Erskine at least give the viewer something pleasing and familiar to look at. The presence of Jean Simmons doesn't hurt, either, though her padrone, studio chief Howard Hughes, was in the process of inadvertantly wrecking her American career with inferior movies.
In the roles as early Christians, Alan Young and Robert Newton make a terrific pair, and ought to have been co-starred again. Mr. Young's endearingly innocent, child-like and effeminate Androcles makes a fascinating contrast with Newton's bellowing, hyper-virile Ferrovius, and one wonders, if one adds to the mix the mere presence of Victor Mature, was going on subliminally in the minds of Pascal and Erskine when they cast this film. (Young fared far better with the animal kingdom some years later on television, as friend and companion of the irascible and unpredictable equine, Mr. Ed.)
In the roles as early Christians, Alan Young and Robert Newton make a terrific pair, and ought to have been co-starred again. Mr. Young's endearingly innocent, child-like and effeminate Androcles makes a fascinating contrast with Newton's bellowing, hyper-virile Ferrovius, and one wonders, if one adds to the mix the mere presence of Victor Mature, was going on subliminally in the minds of Pascal and Erskine when they cast this film. (Young fared far better with the animal kingdom some years later on television, as friend and companion of the irascible and unpredictable equine, Mr. Ed.)
- How long is Androcles and the Lion?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Bernard Shaw's Androcles and the Lion
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,250,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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By what name was Androcles and the Lion (1952) officially released in India in English?
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