Films/DVD Asylum

I found a copy on DVD

50.125.72.153

This Post Has Been Edited by the Author

In Reply to: RE: Please, please identify this . . . . posted by Billy Wonka on March 14, 2015 at 10:32:37

Sign of the Cross 1932
The notes on the back of the case say that there was a theatrical re-release in 1944, heavily edited to comply with the production code that had been in force from 1934. This version is pre-code and has the semi nude scenes including the milk bath as well as the naked girl and the gorilla.

All very racy for 1932, I'm sure. Today, not so much.

This DVD retains some of that black and white celluloid look. There is a sparkling visual to it that is fun to behold. The Roman costumes were stylized into a 1930's version that differs from costumes seen in later movies. These Roman officers wore helmets that were decked out as jewelry.

Cast:
A young Charles Laughton as the infamous emperor Nero.
A young Frederick March as the Roman soldier (Marcus, an officer of high rank) who falls for an interesting christian girl of marriageable age.
A mesmerizing Claudette Colbert who plays Poppaea; empress to Laughton's Nero.
A villainous Roman officer (name?) ambitious to improve his ranking with the emperor by incriminating Marcus and the christian girl any way he can.

Plot summary.
Nero burns Rome. As the fire rages, Nero sits above from his balcony, plays his lire and quotes poetic verse. Then decides to blame the fire on the Christians. Young patrician officer Marcus (evidently in high favor with the empress) falls for an attractive Christian girl. Gets entangled in the Christian arrests. Tries to protect those around the girl. Then ultimately finds himself (voluntarily) following this girl into the arena for gruesome death at the claws and fangs of hungry lions.

comments:
The part where Marcus falls for the girl looks a bit too contrived to be believable...but the movie goes that way so we follow. Meanwhile Poppaea has always had eyes for Marcus, but Marcus has always avoided her because, well she's the wife of the emperor and that leads to trouble. But Poppaea is alluring, seductive and determined to have her way with Marcus.

Actually the scenes with Poppaea (and not just the milk bath) are the high points in this film. Played by Claudette Colbert. (If anyone commands the scenes in this film, it is Colbert.) By this time she is well on her way toward a very active movie career during the depression years.

Not having seen this film before, I looked forward to see Charles Laughton play the infamous Roman Emperor Nero. Here Laughton does not command the scene as he did in later movies. We don't really see the psychosis of Nero coming out of Laughton. I guess it was his later work that made his reputation.

Anyway it is good to have this one on the shelf as an example of De'Mille from 1932.

-Steve

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