Adapted from the novel by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis is the story of the head-on collision between pagan Rome and the newly emerging Christian faith in the first century A.D.

The narration starts out In the 10th year of the antichrist Nero … firmly establishing the film's pro-Christian perspective. The camera reveals proud commander, General Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) driving his chariot at the head of his legions, marching back to the eternal city from his conquests in Britannia. Before reaching the city limits, he is met by a herald who forbids his army to enter the city in the name of Emperor Nero. Riding breakneck into Rome, Marcus requests an audience of Nero (Peter Ustinov) who explains that his army will enter tomorrow in a triumphal procession honoring Marcus' victories.

In the meantime, Marcus goes to the home of a friend of the family, elderly General Plautius, who he finds has a beautiful daughter, Lygia (Deborah Kerr). Immediately smitten by the fiery-haired beauty, Marcus notices there is something strange about the household. While Lygia is represented as Plautius' daughter, on inquiry Marcus learns she is technically a hostage for the good behavior of her father - a foreign king. Lygia is a ward of Nero and really no more than a slave. Her high status is due to kindly treatment by General Plautius who has freed all his slaves.

When Nero wishes to reward Marcus for his exploits, he requests and is given Lygia rather than a high government post. This sets up a conflict; of course Lygia is a Christian and is attracted and at the same time repelled by the pagan Marcus who must find some way of reconciling the differences between his position as a prominent Roman and his love for the lowly Christian woman. More central to the story is the larger conflict of how is the empire going to deal with this new sect that goes against nearly everything that Rome stands for? The answer to this is riveting and involves the destruction of Rome in a sea of flames, and later, the arena, Christians, and lions…

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, Quo Vadis (Where are you going?) is a subtle and witty look at the court intrigue and decadence of imperial Rome under one of its most despicable emperors, Nero. Made in the glory days by MGM as a big budget blockbuster, Quo Vadis seldom fails to please on any level. Although the story looks a little trite on the surface, it has layers of meaning that become apparent to the observant viewer. There are set pieces aplenty including horrific scenes of carnage in the arena that will raise the hair on the back of your neck, scenes of sumptuous banquets where the jaded Romans view life through ruby and emerald crystals, and imperial audiences where the full splendor of the Roman court is revealed. The sets and costuming are sumptuous and convincing, the women are ravishing, the armor looks authentic. The locations and filming were in Rome using Italian extras including a young Sophia Loren in the crowd scenes.

Interesting characters abound with the most entertaining Emperor Nero himself. Marcus and Lygia do well as the frontispiece to the story but the deeper tale unwinds in the intrigues between court regulars Nero, his wife Poppeia, Petronius, and Tigellinius. Nero is a frustrated artist who compels his court to listen to endless boring and poorly performed songs. Poppeia is a wanton slut (and empress) who has her sights on Marcus, who has his eyes on Lygia. Like the earlier Cecil B. DeMille epic Sign of the Cross, Quo Vadis focuses on the tyranny of Nero and the extreme measures taken by Rome to deal with the pesky Christians… In both films, Nero conceives of the burning of Rome, which will allow him to rebuild it in his own fashion. It will also reduce the population, therefore the amount of bread and circuses he has to dole out. When his plan backfires, he blames it on the Christians and puts on spectacles for the public killing the "rebels" in the most gruesome ways he can think of.

The acting is top quality befitting the expense lavished on this epic by MGM. Robert Taylor does his usual dependable handsome tough guy. Deborah Kerr is radiant as the beautiful Lygia. Leo Genn is absolutely marvelous as the smooth talking Petronius, a crony of Nero but one whose speech is always filled with hidden irony. His death scene is a must-see. The women, as in most Italian epics of the era are luscious in their expensive form-fitting gowns and elaborate hairdos and jewelry. There is just no comparison today with films of the golden age in terms of costuming and glamour. In their defense, today's epics do deal more honestly with dirt, but who needs that in a film whose point is to provide escape, anyway? The most savory performance of the lot is by Peter Ustinov, who brings the cowardly and insecure emperor to life. Like Charles Laughton before him, Ustinov makes the character of Nero his own and provides a riveting view of one of the monsters of history.

The photography takes great advantage of the bright Technicolor film and the director does a good job of staging interesting shots - Marcus' triumphal entry into Rome at the head of his army being only one of the many memorable scenes in this film. The martyrdom of St. Peter is another. The Miklos Rosza score is memorable and evokes all the majesty of the great empire that was Rome.

Fans of biblical or historical epics will not want to miss Quo Vadis For those who enjoy this film, I also recommend The Sign of the Cross, Ben Hur, Spartacus, and Gladiator.

For more information on Nero or the Roman Empire, I recommend The Twelve Caesars by Suetonius.









Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day