Androcles and the Lion (1952)

In his autobiography actor Alan Young laments that this work of his is not more widely seen. Young plays Androcles, a tailor, Christian, and animal lover living in the Roman Empire 2nd century AD. Androcles is taken to be scarified in the games or too the Lions and is even mistaken as a sorcerer. This is an adaptation of the George Bernard Shaw play, it has more of a sense of humor and is more honest about the human weakness of the faithful then most of the pious works of the 'Christan's and Romans' sub-genera. However ones not entirely sure how to take the proceedings, on some level its seems mocking and satirical, on another a somewhat comic though almost erudite ode to simple faith. Young's performance grows on you, though it remains very childlike. Jean Simmons wears form fitting robes, and Victor Mature plays yet another Roman receptive to Christains (see The Robe). The rest of the cast sprinkled with surprisingly big (but now largely forgotten) names. More or less satisfying.