ALL SCI-FI

[Bud Brewster]

When if comes to historical epics, give me the ones about the Roman Empire any day.

You just can't beat a melodrama about Nazi's in togas, thoroughly convinced that they're better then everybody else on the planet. Here's the cream of the crop.
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Spartacus is based on a true story, and Kirk Douglas shines in the role as the slave who decided to kick Roman asses all the way down the Roman Appian Way!

The Robe was the first CinemaScope movie, and it presents a glorious journey into the Roman world during the time of Christ. Visually this one take first place when viewed on the newly restored Blu-ray.

Demetrius and the Gladiators is a sequel that actually surpasses its predecessor, because it spends less time thumping the Bible and more time presening action, drama, and spectacle.

Ben Hurr does a great job of putting Charlton Heston on center stage and making Jesus play second fiddle. Heston is forced into slavery, rows a Roman galley ship, and wins a grueling chariot race — proving that life was no picnic back in those days!

However, Quo Vadis holds its own by wallowing in Roman decadence with a great cast and a story which focuses on the corrupt characters.

Peter Ustinov is somewhat successful as Emperor Nero, a wacka-doodle ruler who thinks everybody loves him — even though they can't stand the sight of the silly asshole.

Biblical figures pop in the story occasionally, but they don't hang around long enough to spoil the party.

This movie does an admirable job of showing us just how badly slaves — especially women — were treated in the Roman Empire. Even today this movie presents a disturbing depiction of men who have dominated women shamelessly for centuries!

Watching this movie is a grim reminder of how times have have changed — and how many centuries it took this to happen!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Some QV Trivia:

John Huston was the original director for Quo Vadis, Gregory peck played Marcus, and Elizabeth Taylor played Lygia.

MGM Studios head Louis B. Mayer, an archconservative, was very displeased with the early footage he was seeing for the movie. Emperor Nero's persecution of Christians was being used as an allegory for anti-Communist witch-hunts in America and Hollywood that were taking place at that time.
Mayer ordered the production shutdown. He then ordered a new script, re-cast the film, and hired Mervyn Leroy to take over as director.

The movie cost $7,000,000 and was the most expensive film produced at the time. It payed off as it saved MGM from bankruptcy by being a massive hit at the box office.

The outdoor sets constructed for the movie were huge.

The Circus of Nero, the exterior of Nero's palace, whole sections of Ancient Rome, the great bridge, and the Plautius Villa, were large structures.

[Bud Brewster]

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Thanks, Gord!

Peter Ustinov seems miscast as Nero, because he's always so likable — even as a mad Emporer— that we tend regard his character as just a colorful, harmless lunatic.

But Robert Taylor does a marvelous job of portraying Marcus as a noble man whose character has been corrupted by the twisted norms of Roman culture.

I think Deborah Kerr was better as Legia than Elizabath Taylor would have been, because Kerr portrayed the character's tragic sadness at being a slave so well. With Taylor we'd probably have less sympathy, because the beautiful actress also appears so strong and determined . . . and drop dear gorgeous.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)