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Quo Vadis is an epic 1951 film made by MGM. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Sam Zimbalist, from a screenplay by John Lee Mahin, S. N. Behrman and Sonya Levien, adapted from the classic 1895 Quo Vadis novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and the cinematography by Robert Surtees and William V. Skall. The film stars Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov, with Finlay Currie, Felix Aylmer and Abraham Sofaer. Sophia Loren has an extra's role as a slave girl in one of her first film appearances. Elizabeth Taylor also has a cameo.
Background The title is Latin, meaning Whither goest thou? (where are you going?) and refers to the encounter between St Peter and Jesus Christ on the Appian Way. Peter, fleeing from the persecutions of the Emperor Nero had a vision of Christ whom he asked "Domine, quo vadis?" (Lord, whither goest thou?). Jesus answered him, "Whither I go, thou can not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards" (John 13:36). Peter understood this to mean that Jesus was going back to Rome to be crucified again. Peter, following his own fate, returned to Rome and was crucified at the foot of the Vatican Hills where St Peter's Basilica stands today. Plot The action takes place in ancient Rome from 64-68 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Nero. The subject is the conflict between Christianity and the corruption of the Roman Empire, especially in the last period of the Julio-Claudian line. The characters and events depicted are a mixture of actual historical figures and situations and fictionalised ones. The film tells the story of a Roman military commander, Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor), returning from the wars, who falls in love with a devout Christian, Lygia (Deborah Kerr). Commander Vinicius becomes intrigued by her and her religion. Their love story is told against the broader historical background of early Christianity and its persecution by Nero (Peter Ustinov). Though she grew up Roman, the adopted daughter of a retired general, Lygia is technically a hostage of Rome. Marcus persuades Nero to give her to him for services rendered. Lygia resents this, but still falls in love with Marcus. Meanwhile Nero's atrocities become increasingly more outrageous and his acts more insane. When he burns Rome and blames the Christians, Marcus goes off to save Lygia and her family. Nero captures them and all the Christians, and throws them to the lions, but Marcus are saved at the last moment by Ursus (Buddy Baer), Lygia's faithful servant. Memorable Peter Ustinov's portrayal of the man-child Emperor Nero is so impressive that the viewer actually feels for Nero when Nero is faced with a popular uprising and kills himself to prevent his own execution. Leo Genn steals the show as Petronius, the preferred courtier of Nero, using his wit to adulate and mock him at the same time. When Nero facetiously asks Petronius if he is a Christian, Petronius meets Nero's gaze and responds, "If I were a Christian, then I would love my fellow man. And I most certainly do not love my fellow man." Cast 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 Gerald Perreau-Saissine - Nazarius Geoffrey Dunn - Terpnos D.A. Clarke-Smith - Phaon Rosalie Crutchley - Acte John Ruddock - Chilo Arthur Walge - Croton Elspeth March - Miriam Strelsa Brown - Rufia Alfredo Varelli - Lucan William Tubbs - Anaxander Pietro Tordi - Galba Richard Miles Nicholas Hannen - Seneca Adrienne Corri Elizabeth Taylor - Extra Sophia Loren - One of Lygia's slaves Walter Pidgeon - Narrator Notes Academy Awards Quo Vadis was nominated for eight Academy Awards: twice for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Leo Genn as Petronius and Peter Ustinov as Nero), and also for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color, Best Cinematography, Color, Best Costume Design, Color, Best Film Editing, Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, and Best Picture. However, the movie did not win a single Academy Award. Golden Globe Awards Peter Ustinov won the Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor. The Golden Globe for Best Cinematography was won by Robert Surtees and William V. Skall. The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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