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#1
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 08:23:50 AMANDROCLES AND THE LION (1952):
This supposed George Bernard Shaw adaptation has two of my favorite things: Elsa Lanchester and a big kitty cat. Unfortunately Elsa runs terrified from the film during the first 15 minutes but the kitty cat comes back for the final act. In the meanwhile we're stuck w/ the generally irritating Alan Young (fifth-billed, so the producers must not have loved him either!) who plays Androcles as an only slightly more self-aware version of Peter Sellars' "Chauncey" from BEING THERE. He's swept up in a Roman centurion ICE-like sweep, of Christians instead of immigrants or dissidents, and then paraded (slowly) to the Circus Maximus. (Holy Foreshadowing!)
I am familiar w/ Aesop's fable (as you may be) though have never read nor seen the play by Shaw... though I have read and seen a lot of other Shaw. Although this movie puts Shaw's name and likeness (in marble!) front and center, I could only identify about 2/3rds of the screenplay as reasonably Shavian - the other third (including most of Androcles' dialogue) is pure bad mid-century sitcom shtick.
The sitcom-y sensation is emphasized when Jim Backus (Thornton Howell/Mr. Magoo) shows up as a testy Roman Centurion. 
The arrested Christians all behave as Borg-like unimind pollyannas for more than half the film, before the screenwriters finally allow some of them to crack and admit that maybe dying for the glory of Christ and the pleasure of Emperor Caligula isn't such a fun idea after all, at which point the film becomes a bit more interesting.
Jean Simmons was no Elsa Lanchester (in my very unusual book only) but she was a supernaturally lovely lady, and she gets to give a much better performance as the defacto spokesperson for the doomed Christians than she was permitted to give in/as DESIREE. The second most-consequential Christian is played by Robert Newton, a large distinctive actor who did a couple films w/ Mr. Lanchester (Charles Laughton) and then probably played several roles that Laughton rejected, at least until the advent of Peter Ustinov. Here he plays a wild-eyed Zealot who is so compelling he could've probably been the protagonist, though the fact he's used as seasoning rather than as the main ingredient is still much to the film's benefit. At the climax of this largely cheeky trifle, Newton's rage gets the better of his Christian charity and he's allowed to slay multiple homicidal gladiators, onscreen.
This is very much to the favor of ANDROCLES AND THE LION, I must admit. However, [SPOILER] then he and Simmons and most of the rest of the Christians are bizarrely spared thru Caligula Ex Machina, which does kind of defeat much of the point the martyrs have been struggling to make. [END NON-TRADITIONAL SPOILER] And also of course, like in the fable, Androcles and the Lion are reunited, and (a bit unfortunately) Alan Young survives the film undevoured.[END TRADITIONAL SPOILER]
3/5 This was one I wanted to slip into the "Historical Movies In Order" list but I missed my shot. The most peculiar trivia about ANDROCLES AND THE LION is that, while the lion is mostly played by a real lion
in 2 or 3 wide shots he is played by....... Woody Strode! 
Ah well, Strode's gotta' work!
This supposed George Bernard Shaw adaptation has two of my favorite things: Elsa Lanchester and a big kitty cat. Unfortunately Elsa runs terrified from the film during the first 15 minutes but the kitty cat comes back for the final act. In the meanwhile we're stuck w/ the generally irritating Alan Young (fifth-billed, so the producers must not have loved him either!) who plays Androcles as an only slightly more self-aware version of Peter Sellars' "Chauncey" from BEING THERE. He's swept up in a Roman centurion ICE-like sweep, of Christians instead of immigrants or dissidents, and then paraded (slowly) to the Circus Maximus. (Holy Foreshadowing!)
I am familiar w/ Aesop's fable (as you may be) though have never read nor seen the play by Shaw... though I have read and seen a lot of other Shaw. Although this movie puts Shaw's name and likeness (in marble!) front and center, I could only identify about 2/3rds of the screenplay as reasonably Shavian - the other third (including most of Androcles' dialogue) is pure bad mid-century sitcom shtick.
The sitcom-y sensation is emphasized when Jim Backus (Thornton Howell/Mr. Magoo) shows up as a testy Roman Centurion. The arrested Christians all behave as Borg-like unimind pollyannas for more than half the film, before the screenwriters finally allow some of them to crack and admit that maybe dying for the glory of Christ and the pleasure of Emperor Caligula isn't such a fun idea after all, at which point the film becomes a bit more interesting. Jean Simmons was no Elsa Lanchester (in my very unusual book only) but she was a supernaturally lovely lady, and she gets to give a much better performance as the defacto spokesperson for the doomed Christians than she was permitted to give in/as DESIREE. The second most-consequential Christian is played by Robert Newton, a large distinctive actor who did a couple films w/ Mr. Lanchester (Charles Laughton) and then probably played several roles that Laughton rejected, at least until the advent of Peter Ustinov. Here he plays a wild-eyed Zealot who is so compelling he could've probably been the protagonist, though the fact he's used as seasoning rather than as the main ingredient is still much to the film's benefit. At the climax of this largely cheeky trifle, Newton's rage gets the better of his Christian charity and he's allowed to slay multiple homicidal gladiators, onscreen.
This is very much to the favor of ANDROCLES AND THE LION, I must admit. However, [SPOILER] then he and Simmons and most of the rest of the Christians are bizarrely spared thru Caligula Ex Machina, which does kind of defeat much of the point the martyrs have been struggling to make. [END NON-TRADITIONAL SPOILER] And also of course, like in the fable, Androcles and the Lion are reunited, and (a bit unfortunately) Alan Young survives the film undevoured.[END TRADITIONAL SPOILER]3/5 This was one I wanted to slip into the "Historical Movies In Order" list but I missed my shot. The most peculiar trivia about ANDROCLES AND THE LION is that, while the lion is mostly played by a real lion
in 2 or 3 wide shots he is played by....... Woody Strode! Ah well, Strode's gotta' work! #2
Bad Movies / Re: 100 Historical Movies in O...
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 07:56:20 AMI screwed up again, though - really we were on #24 and I followed w/ #15 , then #16 and #17. So really we're now on
28.) ANDREI RUBLEV (1966)
Ends (w/ the best sequence) in the year 1424.
, then #16 and #17. So really we're now on28.) ANDREI RUBLEV (1966)
Ends (w/ the best sequence) in the year 1424.
#3
Press Releases and Film News / Re: RIP Randolph Mantooth
Last post by claws - Today at 05:34:22 AMNot familiar. Never seen Emergency! or any of his other work in TV soaps. I asked AI for his cultural footprint, and it gave me this:
Cultural Footprint and Legacy
Popularizing Paramedics: When Emergency! premiered, modern prehospital paramedic systems were virtually unknown to the general public; the show served as a massive public-awareness catalyst that helped inspire and shape real-world emergency medical services across the United States.
First Responder Advocacy: Served as an official spokesperson for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) focusing on firefighter health and safety, earning lifetime membership in the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
Bridging Entertainment and Service: Co-produced the documentary Into the Unknown: The Paramedics' Journey (2021) to highlight the modern struggles of emergency medical personnel, cementing a legacy recognized deeply within the global fire and EMS communities.
That is quite something! RIP
Cultural Footprint and Legacy
Popularizing Paramedics: When Emergency! premiered, modern prehospital paramedic systems were virtually unknown to the general public; the show served as a massive public-awareness catalyst that helped inspire and shape real-world emergency medical services across the United States.
First Responder Advocacy: Served as an official spokesperson for the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) focusing on firefighter health and safety, earning lifetime membership in the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
Bridging Entertainment and Service: Co-produced the documentary Into the Unknown: The Paramedics' Journey (2021) to highlight the modern struggles of emergency medical personnel, cementing a legacy recognized deeply within the global fire and EMS communities.
That is quite something! RIP
#4
Press Releases and Film News / RIP Randolph Mantooth
Last post by Trevor - Today at 04:26:38 AMThe American actor who starred in the TV series EMERGENCY! amongst many other roles and created new public perceptions of the work of first responders has passed away at the age of 80.
RIP sir ❤️🌹
RIP sir ❤️🌹
#5
Bad Movies / Re: 100 Historical Movies in O...
Last post by Dr. Whom - Today at 01:58:54 AM17. Henry V (of course the 1944 version)
Set at the Battle of Agincourt 1415
Set at the Battle of Agincourt 1415
#6
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Random Statements About So...
Last post by lester1/2jr - Today at 12:56:39 AMWatching Deathstalker it's pretty awesome.
#7
Games / Re: Answer the question with a...
Last post by bob - July 11, 2026, 10:58:15 PM
Why did cook the alien?
#8
Weird News Stories / Re: The hero we all need.
Last post by LilCerberus - July 11, 2026, 10:11:37 PM^Kinda gives me echoes of Bucket Head from Gremloids.....^
#9
Bad Movies / Re: RECENT VIEWINGS (Bad Movie...
Last post by LilCerberus - July 11, 2026, 09:49:02 PMTonight's Stinker
The Devil's Sleep(1949)
https://youtu.be/848xrrlpbzg?si=NHDCjnfY1bid1hxh
Opens with flashing headlines about teenage crime, kids popping pills, with an announcer blabbing something, then roll opening credits, then a teenager running down a dark alley & the cops catch him.....
So, the female judge of juvenile court is discussing what's gotten into kids these days with a police chief & his head of narcotics cop.... The narc's girlfriend's kid brother is from the same neighborhood, & figures he could enlist the boy's help.... Thing is, the boy is one of the bad guy's customers, along with his girlfriend, who happens to be the judge's daughter.....
The drug dealers run their operation out of a lady's spa & gym, where he sells uppers to the clients, & has a young recruiter sells stolen pharmaceuticals to teens & persuades them to rob medical warehouses.....
The narc gets to work, while the teens go to pool parties at the recruiter's house.....
Watchable, with the gym being a setting for fat jokes & Hays Code exploitation, under the guise of being anti-drug propaganda......
The Devil's Sleep(1949)
https://youtu.be/848xrrlpbzg?si=NHDCjnfY1bid1hxh
Opens with flashing headlines about teenage crime, kids popping pills, with an announcer blabbing something, then roll opening credits, then a teenager running down a dark alley & the cops catch him.....
So, the female judge of juvenile court is discussing what's gotten into kids these days with a police chief & his head of narcotics cop.... The narc's girlfriend's kid brother is from the same neighborhood, & figures he could enlist the boy's help.... Thing is, the boy is one of the bad guy's customers, along with his girlfriend, who happens to be the judge's daughter.....
The drug dealers run their operation out of a lady's spa & gym, where he sells uppers to the clients, & has a young recruiter sells stolen pharmaceuticals to teens & persuades them to rob medical warehouses.....
The narc gets to work, while the teens go to pool parties at the recruiter's house.....
Watchable, with the gym being a setting for fat jokes & Hays Code exploitation, under the guise of being anti-drug propaganda......
#10
Off Topic Discussion / Re: World Cup?
Last post by Trevor - July 11, 2026, 08:16:33 PMEngland beat Norway and Argentina and Switzerland are up next.
Sad news: Jayden Adams, one of the South African players at the World Cup took his own life sadly 😔❤️🌹
Sad news: Jayden Adams, one of the South African players at the World Cup took his own life sadly 😔❤️🌹