Androcles and the Lion (1967 film)


Androcles and the Lion is a 1967 American TV film. It is a musical adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play Androcles and the Lion.
It was adapted by Peter Stone and directed by Joe Layton. The songs were by Richard Rodgers.

Plot

Androcles, a simple-hearted Christian tailor, becomes friends with a lion by removing a thorn from his paw. Later the lion saves Androcles and his friends from martyrdom in the Roman Colosseum.

Cast

Stone said "It is amazing how many opportunities the play offers for musical comedy. I have added no new scenes although there are certain expasions to allow for musicalization. And I have not created any new characters. Shaw, who wrote the play 52 years ago, used contemporary language. There are no anachronisms and the jokes he used were modern.""
The Shaw estate had to approve any changes to the text.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called it "toothless". The New York Times said it "took unhappy toll of varied talents" and "wavered diconcertingly in its indecision over whether to be serious or to have fun" with a "lack of light touch in the staging".

Songs