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The Last Days of Pompeii

  • 19351935
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
AdventureDrama
In the doomed Roman city, a gentle blacksmith becomes a corrupt gladiator, while his son leans toward Christianity.In the doomed Roman city, a gentle blacksmith becomes a corrupt gladiator, while his son leans toward Christianity.In the doomed Roman city, a gentle blacksmith becomes a corrupt gladiator, while his son leans toward Christianity.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
    • Ernest B. Schoedsack
    • Merian C. Cooper(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Ruth Rose(screen play by)
    • Boris Ingster(collaboration on adaptation)
    • James Ashmore Creelman(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Preston Foster
    • Basil Rathbone
    • David Holt
    • Ernest B. Schoedsack
    • Merian C. Cooper(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • Ruth Rose(screen play by)
    • Boris Ingster(collaboration on adaptation)
    • James Ashmore Creelman(original story by)
  • Stars
    • Preston Foster
    • Basil Rathbone
    • David Holt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos53

    Preston Foster, David Holt, and Dorothy Wilson in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster and Dorothy Wilson in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster and David Holt in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Preston Foster in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Agnes Anderson and Louis Calhern in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    Agnes Anderson and Louis Calhern in The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)
    The Last Days of Pompeii (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Preston Foster
    Preston Foster
    • Marcus
    Basil Rathbone
    Basil Rathbone
    • Pontius Pilate
    David Holt
    David Holt
    • Flavius (As a Boy)
    Alan Hale
    Alan Hale
    • Burbix
    John Wood
    John Wood
    • Flavius (As a Man)
    Louis Calhern
    Louis Calhern
    • Prefect (Allus Martius)
    Dorothy Wilson
    Dorothy Wilson
    • Clodia
    Wyrley Birch
    Wyrley Birch
    • Leaster
    Betty Alden
    Betty Alden
    • Calpurnia
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Allen
    • Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Agnes Anderson
    Agnes Anderson
    • Noblewoman in Prefect's Box
    • (uncredited)
    Sam Appel
    Sam Appel
    • Porridge Seller
    • (uncredited)
    Reginald Barlow
    Reginald Barlow
    • The Janitor of the Slave Market
    • (uncredited)
    Nathan Barragar
    • Prefect's Guard
    • (uncredited)
    Maurice Black
    Maurice Black
    • Attendant in Gladiators' Training Room
    • (uncredited)
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Murmex of Carthage, a Gladiator
    • (uncredited)
    Symona Boniface
    Symona Boniface
    • Slave Auction Observer
    • (uncredited)
    Tom Brower
    Tom Brower
    • Runaway Slave
    • (uncredited)
      • Ernest B. Schoedsack
      • Merian C. Cooper(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Ruth Rose(screen play by)
      • Boris Ingster(collaboration on adaptation)
      • James Ashmore Creelman(original story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the book The RKO Story, this film cost $237,000 more than it grossed in its original release, but finally broke even with the box office from a 1949 re-release, paired with She (1935).
    • Goofs
      The central subplot of the meeting with Jesus is impossible, as Pompeii was destroyed after his death in 79 A.D. Given these dates, Flavius would have been a middle aged man, clearly not the youth in his 20's as portrayed in the film.
    • Quotes

      Marcus: Money is all that matters. Well, I can get money! It's easy to get money! All you have to do... is kill.

    • Crazy credits
      The foreword at the beginning of the film is a disclaimer stating that this film is not based on Bulwer-Lytton's novel at all. (It does not use the novel's plot, nor does it have any of the novel's characters.) However, the disclaimer goes on to say that the filmmakers are indebted to him for the description of the destruction of Pompeii.
    • Alternate versions
      A colorized version was made of this film in 1990.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Toast of New York (1937)

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Crossing Paths with Christ
    In the old Roman Empire city of Pompeii, brawny blacksmith Preston Foster (as Marcus) suffers a great family tragedy. Desperate for money, Mr. Foster reluctantly becomes a gladiator; he is uncomfortable killing defeated opponents, but must make a living. Wracked with guilt, Foster adopts pre-teen David Holt (as young Flavius) after killing his father in a fight. Foster can no longer fight competitively and makes money trading slaves and horses. He eventually becomes very prosperous...

    Foster is unaware he is living during the time of Jesus Christ, who has a following. An old woman instructs Foster to take his son to see the "greatest man" in Judea. Foster considers this to be "prophesy." He crosses paths with Christ, but believes the greatest man is more likely the governor of Jerusalem, Basil Rathbone (as Pontius Pilate). Foster begins working with the notorious leader. After the Christian crucifixion, Foster's son grows up to be John Wood (as Flavius) and clashes with his papa...

    Other than the ending eruption, "The Last Days of Pompeii" completely re-works the plot (of the original novel by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton). It's a good (perhaps better), Christian-focused revision, though sometimes stodgy in the production. The concept of slavery is changed, which is nice. Original thinking was that the mistreating of slaves was bad; nice people treated them nicely, and bad people treated them badly. Also, Mr. Rathbone's "Pilate" is given more depth in characterization...

    God, however, is still in firm control of natural disasters.

    ****** The Last Days of Pompeii (10/18/35) Ernest B. Schoedsack ~ Preston Foster, John Wood, Basil Rathbone, David Holt
    helpful•2
    0
    • wes-connors
    • Jun 16, 2013

    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 18, 1935 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 36 minutes
      • Black and White

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