It seems to me that Charles Erskine has managed a rather enjoyable version of the George Bernard Shaw play. After leaving his controlling wife, "Magaera" (played by Elsa Lanchester), "Androcles" (Alan Young) comes across a lion in the wild with a thorn stuck in its paw. Even though he’s frightened, he pulls out the thorn and the lion runs off. Not long after that, he's captured by the Romans led by Victor Mature. His job is to gather Christians for the Emperor’s big circus, and he’s already signed up "Lavinia" (Jean Simmons) and will shortly include the fierce "Ferrovius" (Robert Newton) as they travel toward Rome. Along the way we see a bit about how strong their beliefs are—one in Jesus, one in the Emperor—and it becomes apparent that some people's dedication to the latter is wavering. I believe this represents George Bernard Shaw at his finest. The humor is constant, although not always causing outright laughter, and Robert Newton’s performance stands out as among his best, full of distinctive characters. Credit should also go to Young, who does a good job keeping together a group of seasoned actors providing a fairly thought-provoking and definitely entertaining hundred minutes of historical comedy accompanied by a cheerful score from Frederick Hollander. It's simply good entertainment and deserves watching to see what can be achieved with a solid story presented by performers who clearly know their craft.

Source on TMDB