Quo Vadis (1951)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy
(more)

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screenplay) and
S.N. Behrman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 December 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Three Years in the Making! Thousands in the Cast! Filmed in Rome!

Plot:

A fierce Roman general becomes infatuated with a beautiful Christian hostage and begins questioning the tyrannical leadership of the despot Emporer Nero.

Plot Keywords:

General | Hostage | Christian | Nero | Adopted Daughter

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Robert Taylor	...	Marcus Vinicius
Deborah Kerr	...	Lygia
Leo Genn	...	Petronius
Peter Ustinov	...	Nero
Patricia Laffan	...	Poppaea
Finlay Currie	...	Peter
Abraham Sofaer	...	Paul
Marina Berti	...	Eunice
Buddy Baer	...	Ursus
Felix Aylmer	...	Plautius
Nora Swinburne	...	Pomponia
Ralph Truman	...	Tigellinus
Norman Wooland	...	Nerva
Peter Miles	...	Nazarius
Geoffrey Dunn	...	Terpnos
Nicholas Hannen	...	Seneca
D.A. Clarke-Smith	...	Phaon (as D.A. Clarke - Smith)
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Acte
John Ruddock	...	Chilo
Arthur Walge	...	Croton
Elspeth March	...	Miriam
Strelsa Brown	...	Rufia
Alfredo Varelli	...	Lucan
Roberto Ottaviano	...	Flavius
William Tubbs	...	Anaxander
Pietro Tordi	...	Galba
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marika Aba	...	Dancer - Assyrian Dance at Nero's Banquet (uncredited)
Adriano Ambrogi	...	Wine Bibber (uncredited)
Anna Arena	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Alfred Baillou	...	Christian Prisoner in Arena (uncredited)
Giacomo Barnas	...	Senator (uncredited)
Scott R. Beal	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
John Binns	...	Officer (uncredited)
Francesca Biondi	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Alice Bishop	...	Serving Woman (uncredited)
Carlo Borelli	...	Noble (uncredited)
Leslie Bradley	...	Hasta - 2nd Praetorian (uncredited)
Alfred Brown	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Phyllis Brown	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Valentino Bruchi	...	Mirmillon (uncredited)
Rosemary Burt	...	Banquet Lady (uncredited)
Dante Ciriaci	...	Wine Bibber (uncredited)
Frank Colson	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Adrienne Corri	...	Young Christian Girl (uncredited)
Luca Cortese	...	Old Man (uncredited)
David Craig	...	Little Boy (uncredited)
Maurice De Bosardi	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Daniel De Jonghe	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Michael De Krasny	...	Banquet Man (uncredited)
Liana Del Balzo	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jack del Rio	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Lia Di Leo	...	Pedicurist (uncredited)
Eduardo Di Persis	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Mildred Dudzik	...	Girl (uncredited)
Gabriella Fabrizio	...	Child (uncredited)
Franco Fantasia	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Cesare Fasulo	...	Noble (uncredited)
Al Ferguson	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Enzo Fiermonte	...	Mounted Captain (uncredited)
Enrico Formichi	...	Man with Wine Cup (uncredited)
John Fostini	...	Young Unbaptized Man (uncredited)
Lydia Fostini	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Dino Galvani	...	Senator (uncredited)
Richard Garrick	...	Slave (uncredited)
Gianni Gazzoti	...	Lydia Guard (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Carlo Ghisini	...	Guard (uncredited)
Trudy Glassford	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joan Griffiths	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Evelyn Guignard	...	Girl (uncredited)
Robin Hughes	...	Christ (voice) (uncredited)
Adam Jennette	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Philip Kieffer	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Gipsy Kiss	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Lee Kresel	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Richard Larke	...	Guard (uncredited)
Sophia Loren	...	Lygia's Slave (uncredited)
Giovanni Lovatelli	...	Banquet Man (uncredited)
Helena Makowska	...	Older Woman (uncredited)
Anna Mancini	...	Nubian Slave Girl (uncredited)
Michael Mark	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Clelia Matania	...	Parmenida (uncredited)
Richard McNamara	...	Legionnaire (uncredited)
Harriet Medin	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Dario Michaelis	...	Lydia Guard (uncredited)
Ernesto Morelli	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
John Myhers	...	Guard (uncredited)
Vincent Neptune	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Attillio Olivo	...	Servant (uncredited)
Riette Osborne	...	Banquet Lady (uncredited)
Anna Maria Padoan	...	Young Unbaptized Woman (uncredited)
Riccardo Pantellini	...	Guard (uncredited)
Louis Payne	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Walter Pidgeon	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Aldo Pini	...	Headkeeper (uncredited)
Alberto Plebani	...	Steward (uncredited)
Michael Proben	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Dino Raffaelli	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
George Restive	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Kenneth Richards	...	Guard (uncredited)
Alfredo Rizzo	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Giuseppe Rodi	...	Schipio (uncredited)
Leonardo Scavino	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joseph Sebaroli	...	Marcus Guard (uncredited)
Alessandro Serbaroli	...	Officer (uncredited)
Jurek Shabelewski	...	Faun (uncredited)
John Sleeter	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Lujo Sostarich	...	Charon (uncredited)
Armando Spaccarelli	...	Guard (uncredited)
Bud Spencer	...	Imperial Guard (uncredited)
Jane Sprague	...	Banquet Lady (uncredited)
Raffaele Tana	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Christian Prisoner in Arena (uncredited)
William Taylor	...	Guard Captain / Marcus Guard (uncredited)
Michael Tor	...	Centurian (uncredited)
Giuseppe Tosi	...	Wrestler (uncredited)
Carlo Tricoli	...	Apostle (uncredited)
Renato Valente	...	Guard (uncredited)
Scilla Vannucci	...	White Slave Girl (uncredited)
Giuseppe Varni	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Dianora Veiga	...	Slave Girl (uncredited)
Harry J. Vejar	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Benjamin Wilkes	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Maria Zanoli	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy
Anthony Mann		(uncredited)

Writing credits
John Lee Mahin		(screenplay) and
S.N. Behrman		(screenplay) &
Sonya Levien		(screenplay)
Henryk Sienkiewicz		(novel)
Hugh Gray		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Sam Zimbalist	....	producer

Original Music by
Miklós Rózsa		(as Miklos Rozsa)

Cinematography by
William V. Skall		(director of photography)
Robert Surtees		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ralph E. Winters		(film editor)

Casting by
Mel Ballerino		(uncredited)
Irene Howard		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Edward C. Carfagno		(as Edward Carfagno)
Cedric Gibbons
William A. Horning

Set Decoration by
Hugh Hunt
Elso Valentini		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Herschel McCoy		(costumes: recreated by)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles recreator
Joan Johnstone	....	hair styles recreator
Charles E. Parker	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Mack D'Agostino	....	assistant production manager (uncredited)
Henry Henigson	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter Bolton	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Sergio Leone	....	second unit director (uncredited)
Anthony Mann	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Mentor Huebner	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Italo Tomassi	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
Piero Cavazzuti	....	assistant soundman (uncredited)
Robert B. Lee	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects (as A.Arnold Gillespie)
Tom Howard	....	special effects (as Thomas Howard)
Donald Jahraus	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Peter Ellenshaw	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Fenton Hamilton	....	head electrician (uncredited)
Arthur Lemming	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Leo Monlon	....	grip (uncredited)
George Pink	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John Schmitz	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rino Guidi	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Herschel McCoy	....	costumes recreated by
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Hugh Gray	....	lyric compositions
Eugene Zador	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Eddie Frewin	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Hugh Gray	....	historical adviser
Henri Jaffa	....	Technicolor color consultant
Auriel Millos	....	choreography
Marta Obolensky	....	choreography
Howard Dietz	....	director of publicity (uncredited)
Ben Goetz	....	liaison: M-G-M British (uncredited)
Morgan Hudgins	....	unit publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Loew's (as Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1975) (USA) (TV)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Esselte Video (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• ClassicLine (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (two disc special edition)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (UK) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (????) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• MGM/UA Home Video  VHS package design
• The Philharmonia Orchestra of London  music performed by (uncredited)
• Turner Entertainment  DVD package design
• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design
• Turner Entertainment  current copyright proprietor
• Warner Bros. Entertainment  DVD package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

171 min | UK:166 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (2009) | USA:Approved (PCA #15165) | UK:PG (tv rating) | West Germany:12 (f) | Brazil:12 | South Korea:All | Ireland:PG | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Sophia Loren has an unbilled bit part as a slave girl. While not her first film, it was her first American film, although it was shot in Italy.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious "blue spill" on characters in several scenes, revealing the use of rear-projection footage. Examples of this include the close-ups in the chariot scene and the scenes of characters overlooking the burning of Rome.

Quotes:

Vinicius:[to Lygia about Paul] That beggar-faced philosopher shouldn't be stuffing your head with such nonsense.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in John Huston: The Man, the Movies, the Maverick (1989)

The original novel and this cinema version of it are two very different kettles of fish!

A fellow IMDb-er from Poland, defending Henryk Sienkiewicz's monumental, Nobel Prize-winning novel (which I HAVE read, by the way) calls this M-G-M Technicolor spectacle "CRAP"!

Please! The novel is incredibly dense and detailed; possibly a lot truer to what was known in the early part of the twentieth century of the actual events of the time of its plot; with lots of references to the cruelty and luxury of Nero's Rome; frequent mentions of the pervasive nudity under all kinds of circumstances among the Romans of the time; and, given its length, a perhaps more respectful view of the emergence of Christianity at a time when its converts risked their very lives to admit their beliefs. There is no way that even a multi-part TV mini-(I mean, maxi-)series could come close to approximating the novel's overwhelming complexity.

But, as a piece of filmed entertainment, this cinema extravaganza is not at all worthy of being consigned to the proverbial garbage heap. The cast, yes, including Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr, but, especially the supporting actors (Peter Ustinov, of course; plus Leo Genn, in particular, as well as Patricia Laffan, Marina Berti, Finlay Currie, Felix Aylmer, Rosalie Crutchley, et al.) all take full advantage of a script that had many witty as well as dramatic moments and, for its day, a fairly reverent (though not historically accurate) rendering of Christianity's emergence in a hostile Roman world.

In addition its production values have never been surpassed; in fact, they've never been equalled. One understands how beleaguered those of Polish descent often must feel (I, for one, have never been a fan of so-called "Polish jokes."), but let's not set impossible standards for a translation of one of Poland's most memorable literary achievements! This production is an example of Hollywood marshalling some impressive resources, while avoiding more than a modicum of the cliches that can sabotage such a project. It may not honor its source as some might wish, but it's still a quite grand and opulently eye-filling way to enjoy close to three hours.