| Subject: Androcles and the Lion, my impression |
Author:
Eva Danø
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Date Posted: 21:06:25 09/29/06 Fri
This George Bernard Shaw story, based on the fable, is a wonderful trip into absurdity. It can be watched over and over again; one keeps noticing new little bits.
It is a story of Imperial Rome and the persecution of the early Christians. Not very true to history; there are numerous anachronisms, and all the main characters are much larger than life.
The romantic hero (Victor Mature), a captain in the Imperial army, is OHHH so handsome. The romantic heroine, Lavinia (Jean Simmons), a Christian on her way to the arena and the stomach of a lion, is OHHH so beautiful. The title character, Androcles (Alan Young, who is better known as Wilbur in "Mr.Ed"), is a Christian taylor and OHHH so sweet and gentle, and his wife Megaera (Elsa Lanchester), whom we see only in the beginning of the story, is OHHH so shrewish. The strongman, Ferrovius (Robert Newton), who "has the strength of an elephant and the temper of an angry bull; also he is raving mad", is OHHH so pious, and constantly struggles with his un-Christian-like temper. The lion, "Tommy", is OHHH so big and ferocious, and the thorn in his paw is positively GIGANTIC!
***** SPOILER! *****
Christians from all over the Roman Empire are rounded up, in alphabetical order, to be brought to Rome and sacrificed to the lions. Androcles' wife is upset because he is at the top of the list, so she packs up and makes him leave the town and his pet animals. When they stop for the day, they run into a lion. Androcles notices the thorn in the lion's paw, and manages to pull it out. The wife runs away, but the soldiers catch up to Androcles and he is captured.
A large group of Christians, including Androcles and the pretty Lavinia, are marched towards Rome, with the handsome Captain in charge. They are singing hymns as they walk, including "Onwards Christian Soldiers". The Captain demands that if they must keep on singing, they have to change the words to "Throw Us To the Lions".
We do not meet Ferrovius until almost half an hour into the movie, thought he is an important character from then on. One of the Roman soldiers has gotten caught beneath a supply wagon (I couldn't figure out HOW though; it wasn't tipped over.) Ferrovius, who is chained and led by two Roman soldiers, arrives at that time. When he sees what is going on, he chases off the soldiers trying to lift the wagon off the unfortunate soldier, and he lifts it all by himself so the man can be pulled to safety.
Eventually everyone arrive in Rome. They are intercepted by a foppish friend of the emperor, who makes fun of the Christians for their "turn the other cheek" belief. He chooses Ferrovius to pick on, which results in a very humorous confrontation.
The next day is the big show. The male Christians are given weapons and are expected to fight the gladiators in the arena. Androcles chooses to be cast to the lions with the women, and Ferrovius insists that he will not fight. He enters the arena with a sword in hand, but no armor. However, when he is attacked, he does defend himself, which results in the death of no less than 6 gladiators.
The emperor (Maurice Evans) is so impressed that he pardons all the Christians, but when it is pointed out to him that the people are looking for their entertainment, ONE Christian is picked; Androcles, to be sacrificed to the new lion. Androcles walks bravely into the arena, and the lion is turned loose. Of course the lion is Tommy, the one with the thorn. They recognize each other, and a totally ridiculous dance number ensues.
In true Shaw form, the end is a bit absurd, but still a happy one for all our main players.
Robert Newton does his hallmark eye-popping overacting, but the character he plays here is such that it fits right in, at least in my opinion. Ferrovius would not have been near as entertaining if he had been played with less vivacity.
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