The Cecil B. DeMille Collection: Sign of the Cross
DeMille, the great pioneer of the film industry whose career spanned over 45 years, was known for his great stories, opulent spectacles and "over the top" productions. The Sign of the Cross features Claudette Colbert and Charles Laughton, two giants of the golden age of the silver screen, as the Empress Poppaea and Emperor Nero during the decline of the Roman Empire. After the burning of Rome, Nero blames the Christians, and decrees that they shall all be sent to the arena. Marcus (Fredrich March), the highest-ranking military official in Rome, falls in love with the daughter of two Christians about to be sent to the lions, resulting in tension between himself and the Emperor - who feels he is being easy on the Christians - and the Empress - who has her own designs on Marcus.
Member Reviews
The whine of the cross - CaptainDave
It's a long road that must be travelled before DeMille finally delivers the spectacle he was famous for in this movie. Along the way to the lions in the arena we have to put up with some wooden acting by Frederic March as Marcus Superbus (I wonder who thought that one up), the prefect of Rome, as he pursues the impossibly virtuous, but Christain and therefore doomed, Mercia.
There are a few bright moments along the way to final half-hour, though. Charles Laughton is a lot of fun in his too-seldom appearances as the indolent emperor Nero. And Claudette Colbert does a pretty good turn as his voluptuous and conniving wife, especially in her titillating bath scene.
When we finally get to the coliseum the violence and spectacle are suitably gratuitous, but not entertaining enough to make up for the previous hour and a half. The Christian piety baptising the entire proceedings fails to redeem this flick.The Sign Of Shock - jagfilm
Ostensibly about the persecution of Christians in Caesar's Rome, Cecil B. DeMille's opulent drama is actually an excuse to cram in as much innuendo and straight out exploitation material as possible into a film. Unsurprisingly, the film's more salacious material (a nude bath; a beheading; a head crushed by a elephant; suggestions of bestiality; people eaten by lions and alligators; enough double entendres for Mae West) got the attention of the Hays people who demanded multiple cuts be made to the film.
The picture itself is passable, but is quite distracting at time as the plot is essentially about a Roman soldier who wants to sleep with a Christian girl and will risk his life to do it. The film plods along to set up the last forty five minutes where the audience gets most of the graphic material.
It's an interesting curiosity, but don't go in expecting anything approaching historical accuracy.
Member Reviews
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The whine of the cross - CaptainDave
It's a long road that must be travelled before DeMille finally delivers the spectacle he was famous for in this movie. Along the way to the lions in the arena we have to put up with some wooden acting by Frederic March as Marcus Superbus (I wonder who thought ...The Sign Of Shock - jagfilm
Ostensibly about the persecution of Christians in Caesar's Rome, Cecil B. DeMille's opulent drama is actually an excuse to cram in as much innuendo and straight out exploitation material as possible into a film. Unsurprisingly, the film's more salacious material ...