A Roman soldier becomes torn between his love for a Christian woman and his loyalty to Emperor Nero.
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Title: The Sign of the Cross (1932)
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Nominated for
1
Oscar.
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Fredric March | ... | Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome | |
| Elissa Landi | ... | Mercia | |
| Claudette Colbert | ... | Empress Poppaea | |
| Charles Laughton | ... | Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar | |
| Ian Keith | ... | Tigellinus | |
| Arthur Hohl | ... | Titus | |
| Harry Beresford | ... | Favius Fontelas | |
| Tommy Conlon | ... | Stephan | |
| Ferdinand Gottschalk | ... | Glabrio | |
| Vivian Tobin | ... | Dacia | |
| William V. Mong | ... | Licinius / Old Man Carrying Child | |
| Joyzelle Joyner | ... | Ancaria (as Joyzelle) | |
| Richard Alexander | ... | Viturius | |
| Nat Pendleton | ... | Strabo | |
 |
Clarence Burton | ... | Servillius |
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Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
After burning Rome, Emperor Nero decides to blame the Christians, and issues the edict that they are all to be caught and sent to the arena. Two old Christians are caught, and about to be hauled off, when Marcus, the highest military official in Rome, comes upon them. When he sees their stepdaughter Mercia, he instantly falls in love with her and frees them. Marcus pursues Mercia, which gets him into trouble with Emperor (for being easy on Christians) and with the Empress, who loves him and is jealous. Written by John Oswalt <jao@jao.com>
Taglines:
A picture which will proudly lead all the entertainments the world has ever seenParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 February 1933 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El signo de la cruz See more »Filming Locations:
Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
(without intermission) | (original)Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Poppaea: Dacia, you're a butterfly with the sting of a wasp. Take off your clothes. Get in here and tell me all about it.
See more »
(1932) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Rudolph G. Kopp
Sung a cappella by Christians at the meeting
Reprised by them after their capture and at the arena
Sung a cappella by Elissa Landi and Tommy Conlon
Played and sung offscreen at the end
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The scene where Poppaea bathes in milk was held up for a week while Claudette Colbert finished The Phantom President (1932). See more »Goofs
Nero's pet dogs are two Arabian Salukis, one of the few modern breeds that can trace its lineage to ancient times. However, that particular breed was unknown in Europe until the 12th Century, when returning Crusaders introduced them for the first time. See more »Quotes
[the Empress, soaking naked in a tub of ass's milk and calling to her handmaiden]Poppaea: Dacia, you're a butterfly with the sting of a wasp. Take off your clothes. Get in here and tell me all about it.
See more »
Alternate Versions
Re-released in 1944, with some cuts (sex and sadism scenes) and preceded by a nine minute prologue, set in present time with a WWII theme. This re-release version runs 118 minutes. See more »Soundtracks
Christian Hymn No.1(1932) (uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by Rudolph G. Kopp
Sung a cappella by Christians at the meeting
Reprised by them after their capture and at the arena
Sung a cappella by Elissa Landi and Tommy Conlon
Played and sung offscreen at the end
See more »
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It's a grand scale epic, but sort of dates.
However notable for the surprise short visit of Claudette Colbert's perky breasts and full nipples at 20:38.