Quo Vadis is an engaging costume drama about life in Nero's Rome.
The film is a love story between a roman soldier and a captive Christian woman. It is about the conflict between the pagans and the Christians and the persecution of Christians under Nero's rule. It is about Nero and his relationship with his sister and Petronius (who wrote Satyricon). There are a few sub plots as well - one involving Petronius' intense love affair with a slave (played by Martina Berti).
The Christians in Rome look down on the debauchery of the pagan rulers while the pagans look at the Christians with a certain amount of fear. In a prolonged scene, a Christian priest conducts a secret meeting with some underground Christians. Parallels can be drawn to today's world where Muslims look down on the debauchery of the Westen world while the West consider Muslims to be backward.
The action is limited to a chariot chase sequence and then the bloody finale in the coliseum. Quo Vadis is more of a drama than an action film like BENHUR or GLADIATOR. But the coliseum scene is spectacular. While not as opulent as CLEOPATRA, there are many epic scenes and long shots involving thousands of extras.
I watched it in two sittings. I was impressed by Leo Glenn as Petronius. Deborah Kerr was very erotic even when she played a tame but devout Christian woman. Peter Ustinov nailed the role of the boorish Nero physically. But his dialog delivery was too theatrical. Marina Berti was nice eye candy. Robert Taylor was effortlessly macho as the Roman soldier.
I bet Martin Scorsese loves this film.
(7/10)
The film is a love story between a roman soldier and a captive Christian woman. It is about the conflict between the pagans and the Christians and the persecution of Christians under Nero's rule. It is about Nero and his relationship with his sister and Petronius (who wrote Satyricon). There are a few sub plots as well - one involving Petronius' intense love affair with a slave (played by Martina Berti).
The Christians in Rome look down on the debauchery of the pagan rulers while the pagans look at the Christians with a certain amount of fear. In a prolonged scene, a Christian priest conducts a secret meeting with some underground Christians. Parallels can be drawn to today's world where Muslims look down on the debauchery of the Westen world while the West consider Muslims to be backward.
The action is limited to a chariot chase sequence and then the bloody finale in the coliseum. Quo Vadis is more of a drama than an action film like BENHUR or GLADIATOR. But the coliseum scene is spectacular. While not as opulent as CLEOPATRA, there are many epic scenes and long shots involving thousands of extras.
I watched it in two sittings. I was impressed by Leo Glenn as Petronius. Deborah Kerr was very erotic even when she played a tame but devout Christian woman. Peter Ustinov nailed the role of the boorish Nero physically. But his dialog delivery was too theatrical. Marina Berti was nice eye candy. Robert Taylor was effortlessly macho as the Roman soldier.
I bet Martin Scorsese loves this film.
(7/10)