Film of the Day: 53
Quo Vadis (1951)
From 54 - 68 AD, Nero was the emperor of Rome. In his reign he put most of his attention towards the trade, diplomacy and the increase of culture in Rome.
He had theaters built and promoted athletic games, he had many executions (including his own mother and stepbrother) and (as most Romans believe) has also burned most of Rome in 64 AD today. This is known as the Great Fire of Rome.
He was said to have burned Rome to make room for his planned palatial complex, the Domus Aurea (today it is also refereed to as Nero's House). Of course he did not want the blame for this, and he blamed the burning of Rome on the Christians. However 4 years later, a rebellion rose against the emperor and in the fear of assassination, Nero committed suicide in 68AD.
Of course I can only think of Peter Ustinov as Nero. His performance was so perfectly over the top and eccentric, it was an absolute joy to watch as one of the most demented characters ever put on the silver screen.
As Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) returns to Rome after three years in the field, he meets Lygia (Deborah Kerr) who is a christian so wants nothing to do with him. Nero then gives Lygia to Marcus for his services to Rome but of course Lygia still does not want him. Inevitably they both fall in love in the end, despite their differences. However when Nero burns Rome, Marcus must save Lygia and her family from the fire and the accusations put against them.
I remember watching this movie as a child as I watched many roman epics as a child such as The Robe, Demetrius and the Gladiators and Ben-Hur and there are scene that as a child just shocked me. Scenes like where Nero is playing the harp and singing while Rome is burning behind him. Or when he goes to see the Christians after being eaten by the lions and yelling that half eaten corpses are smiling (as they were singing in joy of entering the gates of heaven as the lions came).
This film may not be on the level of Ben-Hur or Spartacus but it is still a great piece of entertainment, mostly thanks to Ustinov's performance and that of Leo Genn as Petronius.
Click here for the trailer
From 54 - 68 AD, Nero was the emperor of Rome. In his reign he put most of his attention towards the trade, diplomacy and the increase of culture in Rome.He had theaters built and promoted athletic games, he had many executions (including his own mother and stepbrother) and (as most Romans believe) has also burned most of Rome in 64 AD today. This is known as the Great Fire of Rome.
He was said to have burned Rome to make room for his planned palatial complex, the Domus Aurea (today it is also refereed to as Nero's House). Of course he did not want the blame for this, and he blamed the burning of Rome on the Christians. However 4 years later, a rebellion rose against the emperor and in the fear of assassination, Nero committed suicide in 68AD.
Of course I can only think of Peter Ustinov as Nero. His performance was so perfectly over the top and eccentric, it was an absolute joy to watch as one of the most demented characters ever put on the silver screen.
As Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) returns to Rome after three years in the field, he meets Lygia (Deborah Kerr) who is a christian so wants nothing to do with him. Nero then gives Lygia to Marcus for his services to Rome but of course Lygia still does not want him. Inevitably they both fall in love in the end, despite their differences. However when Nero burns Rome, Marcus must save Lygia and her family from the fire and the accusations put against them.
This film may not be on the level of Ben-Hur or Spartacus but it is still a great piece of entertainment, mostly thanks to Ustinov's performance and that of Leo Genn as Petronius.
Click here for the trailer
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