Androclès (Androcles and the Lion / 1912 Feuillade), short film
Androclès <French> / Androcles and the Lion (France, 1912) is a short film (silent, B&W, 10m), directed by Louis Feuillade.
Abstract
Feuillade and Shaw offered two parallel "Christian" versions of the ancient tale. In Feuillade the setting is the 1st century under Emperor Nero, while Shaw opted for a 2nd century setting under Antoninus Pius.
"Androcles, a slave because of his Christianity, is cruelly treated by his master, the Pro Consul of Rome, from whom he escapes in order to avoid the humiliation he had been forced to suffer. While roaming through the jungle wilds of the Italian mountains, he encounters a lion in its cavern lair. Androcles starts back with terror at his discovery, but curiously notes that the king of beasts makes no attempt to spring upon him, but on the contrary, is moaning and groaning with pain. The escaped slave approaches the beast, after gathering up enough courage, and discovers a huge thorn transfixed in the cushion of its paw. Stroking the monster on his mane, he finally succeeds in extracting the thorn and relieving the lion of his suffering. A short time after Androcles is run down by the Roman soldiers and recaptured. He is returned to the Pro Consul, who sentences him to be devoured by the lions in the Coliseum. At the appointed hour the hapless Androcles is tied to the cross and a large lion set loose to pounce upon him. The beast springs forward upon its human prey, but to the amazement of all those assembled, draws back as though from recognition, and instead of lacerating the body of Androcles, rubs his head against his bare legs and licks his feet as though from gratitude. Androcles and the lion have recognized each other, nor has the king of beasts forgotten the favor that the condemned slave had bestowed upon him at the time that he rolled in pain in his cavern lair. The Pro Consul is by no means the least surprised at this miracle and asks Androcles to explain, which he does with such ardor as to win his permanent freedom. The liberated slave is also granted the lion as a reward, whereafter man and beast become inseparable friends."--Moving Picture World synopsis
Cast
Production
Produced and released in France (April 1912), by Gaumont.
Distributed in the United States (13 August 1912).
External links
- [ Wiki.en]
- The Internet Movie Database