Adapted from a minor piece of Bernard Shaw's, this is a cross between a highbrow kiddie film and a low-rent biblical epic. Alan Young is Androcles, the lion's buddy, and so the relationship can't help but remind the 60's TV viewer of Young's later relationship with that other famous animal, Mr. Ed. It's somewhat silly and pretty forgettable, but Robert Newton is good as the braggart Christian, Jean Simmons is very beautiful, and Woody Strode--for what its worth--is the Lion.

A unique interpretation of the classic tale with some wonderfully misplaced items (such as roman slaves singing Victorian hymns and a legion being led by a tuba). Some humorous characterisations although I suspect these were largely unintentional. Very low production values even for the time.