Quo Vadis (1951)

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

Directors:

Mervyn LeRoy, Anthony Mann (uncredited)

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screen play), S.N. Behrman (screen play)

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Returning to Rome after three years in the field, General Marcus Vinicius meets Lygia and falls in love with her, though as a Christian she wants nothing to do with a warrior. Though she grew up Roman, the adopted daughter of a retired general, Lygia is technically a hostage of Rome. Marcus gets Emperor Nero to give her to him for services rendered but finds himself succumbing gradually to her Christian faith.

---

Plot Keywords:

love | gladiator | epic | roman empire | ancient rome | 

---

Taglines:

The Greatest Spectacle Ever Filmed...Three Triumphant Hours of Unforgettable Thrills!

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Qvo Vadis

Filming Locations:

Bolgheri Cypress Avenue/Alley/Boulevard, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$7,623,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$24,291,740

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$45,860,660

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

171 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cinecitta simply didn't have enough electrical power to cope with the demands of lighting such immense sets, so generators were shipped over from English studios. They even requisitioned a generator from a decommissioned Italian warship.

---

Goofs

Though it is much debated, the cross may not have been used as a Christian symbol until the second century AD, some decades after the setting of Quo Vadis. In any case, it makes no sense that the Christian characters are secretive about the fish symbol, yet they hang crosses in their homes where anyone can see them. (And if the FISH sign was a secret, how did the pagan fortune teller and the non-Christian chief concubine in Nero's harem know about it?)

---

Quotes

Vinicius: [as the Christians file into the arena, singing] These people know how to die, Nero. In death you will squeal like a hog!

---

Connections

Referenced in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

User Reviews

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.