Alan Young, as Androcles, and Jean Simmons in ANDROCLES AND THE LION (1952)
Are there any fans of this film? I rarely read or hear anyone mention this early PEPLUM film anywhere. It was co-directed by an uncredited Nicholas Ray, who would make more prominent films in the 1950s after this one. This was Jean's first PEPLUM movie, before THE ROBE (1953) and others. PEPLUM star Victor Mature is also in it, as well as Robert Newton. Great cast and director, adapted from a George Bernard Shaw play, but seemingly few fans.
ReplyDeleteNot a very successful Peplum in my view.
Victor Mature's American accent sticks out among the English accents of the rest of the leading cast members.
At least Jean Simmons was cute.
It's much more true to the Bernard Shaw play than to peplum films or even antiquity. If you regard it in that light, I think it has considerable merit.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very entertaining movie, well crafted in my view. But it's certainly not your classic Peplum.
ReplyDeleteNicholas Ray was hired by Howard Hughes to shoot a sexy dance sequence, which he did. It was cut before the film's release at the insistence of the directer Chester Erskine who thought it was "vulgar".
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