Directed by:
Cecil B. DeMilleCinematography:
Karl StrussCast:
Fredric March, Elissa Landi, Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton, Ian Keith, Arthur Hohl, Harry Beresford, Tommy Conlon, Ferdinand Gottschalk (more)Plots(1)
Rome is ablaze with political intrigue, jealousy, and the fires set by the depraved Emperor Nero (Charles Laughton). The half-mad emperor delights in burning the city and blaming the fire on the Christians so he can slaughter them. Rome's prefect Marcus (Fredric March) is in charge of hunting the underground band of Christians who live in constant fear of death and torture because of their beliefs. While rounding up two philosophers accused of practicing Christianity, he meets a virtuous and lovely Christian maiden (Elissa Landi) whom he instantly falls in love with. All the while the decadent Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert) fights for Marcus's undivided attention as she jealousy plots the death of his newfound charge. Ultimately, Marcus must betray Nero and his power-hungry wife if he wishes to keep his young love alive. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Fredric March
USA
Best movies:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Inherit the Wind (1960)
Hombre (1967)
Elissa Landi
Italy
Best movies:
After the Thin Man (1936)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Underground (1928)
Claudette Colbert
France
Best movies:
It Happened One Night (1934)
Midnight (1939)
Royal Affairs in Versailles (1954)
Charles Laughton
UK
Best movies:
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
It Started with Eve (1941)
Spartacus (1960)
Ian Keith
USA
Best movies:
The Sea Hawk (1940)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
The Big Trail (1930)
Arthur Hohl
USA
Best movies:
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
The Yearling (1946)
You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)
Harry Beresford
UK
Best movies:
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Dinner at Eight (1933)
Anna Karenina (1935)
Tommy Conlon
USA
Best movies:
Reap the Wild Wind (1942)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Black Friday (1940)
Ferdinand Gottschalk
UK
Best movies:
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Ex-Lady (1933)
Les Misérables (1935)
William V. Mong
USA
Best movies:
The Last of the Mohicans (1936)
The Big Trail (1930)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Joyzelle Joyner
USA
Best movies:
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Search for Beauty (1934)
Richard Alexander
USA
Best movies:
The Great Dictator (1940)
Modern Times (1936)
The Mysterious Lady (1928)
Nat Pendleton
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful World (1939)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Manhattan Melodrama (1934)
Clarence Burton
USA
Best movies:
Why Change Your Wife? (1920)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
The Ten Commandments (1923)
Tom Tully
USA
Best movies:
Ten North Frederick (1958)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
The Moon Is Blue (1953)
Kent Taylor
USA
Best movies:
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
One Hour with You (1932)
The Scarlet Empress (1934)
Arthur Shields
Ireland
Best movies:
The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
The People Against O'Hara (1951)
Gentleman Jim (1942)
John Carradine
USA
Best movies:
Captains Courageous (1937)
The Invisible Man (1933)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Dave O'Brien
USA
Best movies:
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
Footlight Parade (1933)
Henry Brandon
German Empire
Best movies:
Edge of Darkness (1943)
The Ten Commandments (1956)
If I Were King (1938)