The Sign of the Cross Movie Review 1933

Depraved Emperor Nero (Laughton) decides he wants a new city so he burns down Rome--blaming the fire on the Christians he also wants to get rid of (preferably by the lions in the arena). Meanwhile, Marcus (March), the Roman Prefect, has fallen for the virginal Christian Mercia (Landi) and risks his life to save her. Besides Laughton's overwhelmingly hammy performance, Colbert slinks seductively as the emperor's vixenish wife, Poppaea. Again, lots of crowd scenes (DeMille's specialty). Based on the play by Wilson Barrett.

Distribution

Universal Studios Home Video, 100 Universal City Plz., Universal City, CA 91608-9955, Phone: (818)777-1000, Fax: (818)866-1483, URL: http://www.universalstudios.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 125 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, Religious Epics, Royalty, Adapted from a Play, Rome--Ancient

Screenplay

Waldemar Young, Sidney Buchman

Cast

Fredric March, Elissa Landi, Charles Laughton, Claudette Colbert, Ian Keith, Harry Beresford, Arthur Hohl, Nat Pendleton

Director

Cecil B. DeMille

Music

Rudolph Kopp

Producer

Cecil B. DeMille, Paramount Pictures