Androcles and the Lion (1952)
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- Approved
- 1h 38min
- Adventure, Comedy
- 09 Jan 1953 (USA)
- Movie
Story of a Christian in ancient Rome who befriends a lion.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Jean Simmons | ... |
Lavinia
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| Victor Mature | ... |
Captain
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| Alan Young | ... |
Androcles
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| Robert Newton | ... |
Ferrovius
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| Maurice Evans | ... |
Emperor Antoninus (Caesar)
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| Elsa Lanchester | ... |
Megaera
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| Reginald Gardiner | ... |
Lentulus
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| Gene Lockhart | ... |
Menagerie Keeper
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| Alan Mowbray | ... |
Editor of Gladiators
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| Noel Willman | ... |
Spintho
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| John Hoyt | ... |
Cato
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| Jim Backus | ... |
Centurion
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| Lowell Gilmore | ... |
Metellus
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| Woody Strode | ... |
The Lion
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Doris Barton | ... |
Vestal Virgin (uncredited)
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Lillian Clayes | ... |
Christian Woman (uncredited)
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| Harry Cording | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Clint Dorrington | ... |
Officer in Forest (uncredited)
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| Dick Elliott | ... |
Ox Cart Driver (uncredited)
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| Bess Flowers | ... |
Christian Woman (uncredited)
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| Robert Foulk | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Don Garrett | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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| Charlie Hall | ... |
Town Crier (uncredited)
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Jackson Halliday | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Shep Houghton | ... |
Gladiator (uncredited)
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| Clark Howat | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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| George Huggins | ... |
Christian (uncredited)
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| Harry Lauter | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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| Sylvia Lewis | ... |
Queen of the Vestal Virgins (uncredited)
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| Chester Marshall | ... |
Call Boy (uncredited)
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| Strother Martin | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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Larry McGrath | ... |
Vendro (uncredited)
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| John Merton | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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| Frank Mills | ... |
Christian (uncredited)
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| Steve Pendleton | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Richard Reeves | ... |
Gladiator (uncredited)
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| Mike Road | ... |
Retiarius (uncredited)
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Alex Sharp | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Jack Shea | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Millard Sherwood | ... |
Christian (uncredited)
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| Midge Ware | ... |
Christian Woman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Chester Erskine | ||
| Nicholas Ray | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Chester Erskine | ... | (screen adaptation) and |
| Ken Englund | ... | (screen adaptation) |
| George Bernard Shaw | ... | (play) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Gabriel Pascal | ... | producer |
| Lewis J. Rachmil | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Friedrich Hollaender | ... | (as Frederick Hollander) |
Cinematography by
| Harry Stradling Sr. | ... | director of photography (as Harry Stradling) |
Editing by
| Roland Gross | ||
Production Design by
| Harry Horner | ||
| William Cameron Menzies | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Albert S. D'Agostino | ||
| Charles F. Pyke | ||
Set Decoration by
| Al Orenbach | ... | (set decorations) |
| Darrell Silvera | ... | (set decorations) |
Makeup Department
| Mel Berns | ... | makeup artist |
| Larry Germain | ... | hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gregg Peters | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Coby Ruskin | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Arthur J. Vitarelli | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| John L. Cass | ... | sound (as John Cass) |
| Clem Portman | ... | sound |
| C.J. 'Mickey' Emerson | ... | cable man (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Linwood G. Dunn | ... | special photographic effects (as Linwood Dunn) |
Stunts
| Wayne Burson | ... | for Allen Young (uncredited) |
| Stubby Kruger | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Alex Sharp | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Emile Santiago | ... | costumes |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| C. Bakaleinikoff | ... | musical director |
| Roy Webb | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Gabriel Pascal | ... | presenter |
| Aldo Tomassini-Barbarossa | ... | technical advisor |
| Ralph Helfer | ... | animal trainer: lion (uncredited) |
| Frank Inn | ... | animal trainer: lion (uncredited) |
| Juanita Inn | ... | animal trainer: lion (uncredited) |
| Mel Koontz | ... | lion owner/lion trainer (uncredited) |
| Frank Lamping | ... | animal trainer: lion (uncredited) |
| Henry Rackin | ... | executive production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (United States) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1953) (France) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Films (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- RKO Radio Pictures (1953) (Norway) (theatrical)
- C&C Television Corporation (1955) (United States) (tv)
- Sascha Filmverleih (1955) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (United States) (tv)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1987) (United States) (VHS) (for Janus Films)
- Home Vision Cinema (2000) (United States) (VHS)
- Eclipse from the Criterion Collection (2010) (United States) (DVD)
- Odeon Entertainment (2010) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- The Criterion Channel (2019) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F. of L.)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Androcles is a Christian who follows that religion's teachings even as they apply to the treatment of animals. Seeing a lion in pain, he removes a huge thorn from the beast's paw, creating a friend for life. Androcles and a number of other Christians are evenutally arrested and condemned to death in the arena. They are to die by being eaten by lions. Is it too much to hope that one of the lions may have a paw that has healed recently and might remember who helped heal it?
Written by Ron Kerrigan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Flaming story of history's most fabulous era! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,250,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | After 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. See more » |
| Goofs | The Christians sing "Onward, Christian Soldiers" - a hymn published in 1871. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in It's Showtime (1976). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Onward, Christian Soldiers See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: ROME 161 A.D. IN THE REGION OF THE EMPEROR ANTONINUS See more » |
| Quotes |
Cato:
Christianity is very contagious, captain. You never can tell where it will strike next. We want to be certain that it does not strike our valiant soldiers... and their officers. See more » |