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Constantine and the Cross

Original title: Costantino il grande
  • 19611961
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
508
YOUR RATING
Christine Kaufmann and Cornel Wilde in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
AdventureDramaHistory
Biopic of Constantine the Great, set between 293-312 AD, from his days as Tribune to his accession as Roman Emperor of Gaul under the tetrarchy system and ending with his battle against the ... Read allBiopic of Constantine the Great, set between 293-312 AD, from his days as Tribune to his accession as Roman Emperor of Gaul under the tetrarchy system and ending with his battle against the usurper Roman Emperor Maxentius in Rome.Biopic of Constantine the Great, set between 293-312 AD, from his days as Tribune to his accession as Roman Emperor of Gaul under the tetrarchy system and ending with his battle against the usurper Roman Emperor Maxentius in Rome.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
508
YOUR RATING
    • Lionello De Felice
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Michael Audley(dialogue)
    • Ennio De Concini
    • Lionello De Felice
  • Stars
    • Cornel Wilde
    • Belinda Lee
    • Massimo Serato
    • Lionello De Felice
    • Irving Rapper
  • Writers
    • Michael Audley(dialogue)
    • Ennio De Concini
    • Lionello De Felice
  • Stars
    • Cornel Wilde
    • Belinda Lee
    • Massimo Serato
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

    Christine Kaufmann in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Cornel Wilde in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Belinda Lee in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Belinda Lee and Cornel Wilde in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Belinda Lee and Cornel Wilde in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Constantine and the Cross (1961)
    Constantine and the Cross (1961)

    Top cast

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    Cornel Wilde
    Cornel Wilde
    • Constantine
    Belinda Lee
    Belinda Lee
    • Fausta
    Massimo Serato
    Massimo Serato
    • Maxentius
    Christine Kaufmann
    Christine Kaufmann
    • Livia
    Fausto Tozzi
    Fausto Tozzi
    • Hadrian
    Tino Carraro
    • Emperor Maximianus
    Carlo Ninchi
    Carlo Ninchi
    • Constantius Chlorus
    Vittorio Sanipoli
    • Apuleius
    Elisa Cegani
    • Elena
    Nando Gazzolo
    • Licinius
    Annibale Ninchi
    Annibale Ninchi
    • Galarius
    Franco Fantasia
    • Roman Soldier
    Loris Gizzi
    Loris Gizzi
    • Roman Prosecutor
    Enrico Glori
    Enrico Glori
    • Livia's Father
    Jole Mauro
    • Celi - Fausta's Maid
    Carlo Tamberlani
    Carlo Tamberlani
    • Diocletian
    Renato Terra
    Renato Terra
    • Jailer
    Giuseppe Addobbati
    Giuseppe Addobbati
      • Lionello De Felice
      • Irving Rapper
    • Writers
      • Michael Audley(dialogue)
      • Ennio De Concini
      • Lionello De Felice
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Elisa Cegani, who plays Cornel Wilde's mother, was less than two years older than him.
    • Quotes

      Constantius Chlorus: Generals are made in Rome. It's time you realized the extent of the intrigue and corruption there.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Vidal Sassoon: The Movie (2010)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    The Violent Rise of Christendom in Europe
    This Italian production stars an American born in Hungary (Wilde), a German, and a Brit in key roles. American Cornell Wilde plays Constantine. Livia, a pious Christian woman loved by Constantine's friend Hadrian is played by German prodigy Christine Kauffman (at the age of 18, she was already a veteran). And the tragic British glamor- girl Belinda Lee plays Constantine's devoted wife Fausta (Lee died in a car crash shortly after this film was completed). The rest of the cast rounds out nicely with Italian actors, many of whom are quite good.

    The subject matter is, ultimately, the story of Christianity's (really Eastern Orthodoxy) rise from an obscure, persecuted cult to one of Europe's dominant religions through its adoption by one of the great Byzantine Roman conquerors - Emperor Constantine. Those who are not interested in this ideologically and historically important subject should probably avoid this film, because it does, at times, move pretty slowly.

    The story is epic and heroic following Constantine, Fausta, Hadrian and Livia from their young adulthood through to Constntine's rise to power and eventual unification of the empire. Constantine is depicted as a brilliant warrior, leader and strategist (which he certainly was) with stability and peace at the heart of his motivations (which is arguable). Much is left out of the story and much is changed. There is no clear indication of Constantine's formidable intellect and education, nor the ambiguity of his motives and alliances. Much of the complex intrigues of Constantine's times is ignored or altered in order to keep the story moving. Even so, the story can be a little hard to follow if you are not already familiar with the history.

    The production is generally very good. The acting is fine, though Wilde and Lee are both a little stiff at times, and don't seem to have developed the chemistry appropriate for their roles. Christine Kauffman (Livia), and Fausto Tozzi (Hadrian) are excellent in their important supporting roles. The sets are great, though the occasional and unnecessary bird's eye views of Rome (a miniature) are a bit silly. the costumes are impressively detailed, and the battles are well choreographed and filmed - though it is sometimes hard to figure out what is going on in the battle scenes.

    Considering the grand scale of the film, Constantine and the Cross is quite good. I enjoy historical fiction - even when it is more fiction than history - so - had I gone with my own personal enjoyment of this film, I would have given it a 7. It is a good effort to portray an important and under-examined subject. Well worth seeing by those interested in the history of religion, Christians, and movie fans who enjoy epic historical fiction.
    helpful•10
    8
    • mstomaso
    • Jul 6, 2007

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 1962 (United States)
      • Italy
      • Yugoslavia
      • Italian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Beaver-Champion Attractions
      • Jadran Film
      • Jonia Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours
      • Mono

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    Christine Kaufmann and Cornel Wilde in Constantine and the Cross (1961)
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