Quo Vadis (1951)
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- Not Rated
- 2h 51min
- Biography, Drama
- 25 Dec 1951 (USA)
- Movie
After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadership of the despotic emperor Nero.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Taylor | ... |
Marcus Vinicius
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| Deborah Kerr | ... |
Lygia
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| Leo Genn | ... |
Petronius
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| Peter Ustinov | ... |
Nero
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| Patricia Laffan | ... |
Poppaea
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| Finlay Currie | ... |
Peter
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| Abraham Sofaer | ... |
Paul
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| Marina Berti | ... |
Eunice
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| Buddy Baer | ... |
Ursus
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| Felix Aylmer | ... |
Plautius
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| Nora Swinburne | ... |
Pomponia
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| Ralph Truman | ... |
Tigellinus
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| Norman Wooland | ... |
Nerva
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| Peter Miles | ... |
Nazarius
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Geoffrey Dunn | ... |
Terpnos
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| Nicholas Hannen | ... |
Seneca
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| D.A. Clarke-Smith | ... |
Phaon
(as D. A. Clarke - Smith)
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| Rosalie Crutchley | ... |
Acte
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John Ruddock | ... |
Chilo
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Arthur Walge | ... |
Croton
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| Elspeth March | ... |
Miriam
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| Strelsa Brown | ... |
Rufia
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Alfredo Varelli | ... |
Lucan
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Roberto Ottaviano | ... |
Flavius
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William Tubbs | ... |
Anaxander
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| Pietro Tordi | ... |
Galba
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Marika Aba | ... |
Dancer - Assyrian Dance at Nero's Banquet (uncredited)
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Adriano Ambrogi | ... |
Wine Bibber (uncredited)
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Anna Arena | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Alfred Baillou | ... |
Christian Prisoner in Arena (uncredited)
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Giacomo Barnas | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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Scott R. Beal | ... |
Fisherman (uncredited)
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John Binns | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Francesca Biondi | ... |
Slave Girl (uncredited)
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Alice Bishop | ... |
Serving Woman (uncredited)
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Carlo Borelli | ... |
Noble (uncredited)
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| Leslie Bradley | ... |
Hasta - 2nd Praetorian (uncredited)
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Alfred Brown | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Phyllis Brown | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Valentino Bruchi | ... |
Mirmillon (uncredited)
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Rosemary Burt | ... |
Banquet Lady (uncredited)
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Dante Ciriaci | ... |
Wine Bibber (uncredited)
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Frank Colson | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Adrienne Corri | ... |
Young Christian Girl (uncredited)
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Luca Cortese | ... |
Old Man (uncredited)
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David Craig | ... |
Little Boy (uncredited)
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Maurice De Bosardi | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Daniel De Jonghe | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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Michael De Krasny | ... |
Banquet Man (uncredited)
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Liana Del Balzo | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Jack Del Rio | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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| Lia Di Leo | ... |
Pedicurist (uncredited)
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Eduardo Di Persis | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Mildred Dudzik | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Gabriella Fabrizio | ... |
Child (uncredited)
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Franco Fantasia | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Cesare Fasulo | ... |
Noble (uncredited)
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| Al Ferguson | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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| Enzo Fiermonte | ... |
Mounted Captain (uncredited)
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Enrico Formichi | ... |
Man with Wine Cup (uncredited)
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John Fostini | ... |
Young Unbaptized Man (uncredited)
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Lydia Fostini | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Dino Galvani | ... |
Senator (uncredited)
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| Richard Garrick | ... |
Slave (uncredited)
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Gianni Gazzoti | ... |
Lydia Guard (uncredited)
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Jack George | ... |
Fisherman (uncredited)
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Carlo Ghisini | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Trudy Glassford | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Joan Griffiths | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Evelyn Guignard | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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| Robin Hughes | ... |
Christ (uncredited) (voice)
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Adam Jennette | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Philip Kieffer | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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Gipsy Kiss | ... |
Slave Girl (uncredited)
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Lee Kresel | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Richard Larke | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Sophia Loren | ... |
Lygia's Slave (uncredited)
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Giovanni Lovatelli | ... |
Banquet Man (uncredited)
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| Helena Makowska | ... |
Older Woman (uncredited)
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Anna Mancini | ... |
Nubian Slave Girl (uncredited)
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| Michael Mark | ... |
Fisherman (uncredited)
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| Clelia Matania | ... |
Parmenida (uncredited)
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Richard McNamara | ... |
Legionnaire (uncredited)
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| Harriet Medin | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Dario Michaelis | ... |
Lydia Guard (uncredited)
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Ernesto Molinari | ... |
Fisherman (uncredited)
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John Myhers | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Vincent Neptune | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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Attillio Olivo | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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Riette Osborne | ... |
Banquet Lady (uncredited)
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Anna Maria Padoan | ... |
Young Unbaptized Woman (uncredited)
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Riccardo Pantellini | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Louis Payne | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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| Walter Pidgeon | ... |
Narrator (uncredited) (voice)
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Aldo Pini | ... |
Headkeeper (uncredited)
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Alberto Plebani | ... |
Steward (uncredited)
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Michael Proben | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Paola Quattrini | ... |
Crying girl (uncredited)
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Dino Raffaelli | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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George Restivo | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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Kenneth Richards | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Alfredo Rizzo | ... |
Hairdresser (uncredited)
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Giuseppe Rodi | ... |
Schipio (uncredited)
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| Amerigo Santarelli | ... |
Guard tying the Christians (uncredited)
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Leonardo Scavino | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Joseph Sebaroli | ... |
Marcus Guard (uncredited)
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Alessandro Serbaroli | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Jurek Shabelewski | ... |
Faun (uncredited)
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John Sleeter | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Lujo Sostarich | ... |
Charon (uncredited)
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Armando Spaccarelli | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| Bud Spencer | ... |
Imperial Guard (uncredited)
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Jane Sprague | ... |
Banquet Lady (uncredited)
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Raffaele Tana | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Elizabeth Taylor | ... |
Christian Prisoner in Arena (uncredited)
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William Taylor | ... |
Guard Captain / Marcus Guard (uncredited)
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Michael Tor | ... |
Centurian (uncredited)
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Giuseppe Tosi | ... |
Wrestler (uncredited)
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Carlo Tricoli | ... |
Apostle (uncredited)
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Renato Valente | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Scilla Vannucci | ... |
White Slave Girl (uncredited)
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Giuseppe Varni | ... |
Hairdresser (uncredited)
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Dianora Veiga | ... |
Slave Girl (uncredited)
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Harry J. Vejar | ... |
Fisherman (uncredited)
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Romilda Villani | ... |
Slave Girl (uncredited)
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Benjamin Wilkes | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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| Maria Zanoli | ... |
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Mervyn LeRoy | ||
| Anthony Mann | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| John Lee Mahin | ... | (screen play) and |
| S.N. Behrman | ... | (screen play) & |
| Sonya Levien | ... | (screen play) |
| Henryk Sienkiewicz | ... | (based on the novel by) |
| Hugh Gray | ... | (contributing writer) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Sam Zimbalist | ... | producer |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Cinematography by
| William V. Skall | ... | director of photography |
| Robert Surtees | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Ralph E. Winters | ||
Editorial Department
| Henri Jaffa | ... | color consultant: Technicolor |
Casting By
| Mel Ballerino | ... | (uncredited) |
| Irene Howard | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Edward C. Carfagno | ... | (as Edward Carfagno) |
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
| William A. Horning | ||
Set Decoration by
| Hugh Hunt | ||
| Elso Valentini | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
| Sydney Guilaroff | ... | hair styles recreator |
| Joan Johnstone | ... | hair styles recreator |
| Charles E. Parker | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| Mack D'Agostino | ... | assistant production manager (uncredited) |
| Henry Henigson | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
| Luciano Sacripanti | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Peter Bolton | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
| Sergio Leone | ... | second unit director (uncredited) |
| Anthony Mann | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Donald P. Desmond | ... | set construction (uncredited) |
| Al Goodman | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Mentor Huebner | ... | storyboard artist (uncredited) |
| Italo Tomassi | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Will Williams | ... | movie poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording supervisor |
| Piero Cavazzuti | ... | assistant soundman (uncredited) |
| Robert B. Lee | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| George G. Schneider | ... | sound department (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| A. Arnold Gillespie | ... | special effects (as A.Arnold Gillespie) |
| Tom Howard | ... | special effects (as Thomas Howard) |
| Donald Jahraus | ... | special effects |
| Belita Pechtl Klant | ... | lion stunt (uncredited) |
| Jean Michon | ... | lion stunt (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Peter Ellenshaw | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Nuno Salvação Barreto | ... | bullfight stunt (uncredited) |
| Alfred Schneider | ... | lion stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Dennis Bartlett | ... | focus puller: third unit (uncredited) |
| Fenton Hamilton | ... | head electrician (uncredited) |
| Arthur Lemming | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Leo Monlon | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| George Pink | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| John Schmitz | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Rino Guidi | ... | casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Herschel McCoy | ... | costumes recreated by |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Hugh Gray | ... | lyric compositions |
| BBC Singers | ... | musicians: choir (uncredited) |
| Marcus Dods | ... | associate conductor (uncredited) |
| E.A. Drake | ... | music recordist (uncredited) |
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Lionel Salter | ... | musician: keyboards (uncredited) |
| J.B. Smith | ... | music recordist (uncredited) |
| A.W. Watkins | ... | music recording supervisor (uncredited) |
| Eugene Zador | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Eddie Frewin | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Hugh Gray | ... | historical adviser |
| Aurel Milloss | ... | choreography (as Auriel Millos) |
| Marta Obolensky | ... | choreography |
| Howard Dietz | ... | director of publicity (uncredited) |
| Ben Goetz | ... | liaison: M-G-M British (uncredited) |
| Morgan Hudgins | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Mel Koontz | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (United States) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Metro (1957) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1957) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1964) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- British Empire Films Australia (1972) (Australia) (theatrical) (Italian version)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1976) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- TF1 (1980) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1985) (Greece) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1986) (United States) (VHS)
- Rai 3 (1987) (Italy) (tv)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1995) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (Finland) (tv)
- ClassicLine (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Warner Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (special edition)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Netherlands) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Finland) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (United States) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)
- Warner Bros. (2009) (United Kingdom)
- BBC Two (2016) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1953) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
- Esselte Video (Finland) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (Germany) (VHS)
- NHK-BS2 (1992) (Japan) (tv)
- PSG (2005) (Japan) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2008) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinecittà (stages)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F. of L.)
- MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
- The Philharmonia Orchestra of London (music performed by)
- Turner Entertainment (DVD package design)
- Turner Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment (DVD package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Returning to Rome after three years in the field, General Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) meets Lygia (Deborah Kerr) 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 (Sir Peter Ustinov) to give her to him for services rendered, but finds himself succumbing gradually to her Christian faith.
Written by John Oswalt |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Three Years in the Making! Thousands in the Cast! Filmed in Rome! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $7,623,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $45,860,660 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | In his memoirs, "Dear Me" (1981), Peter Ustinov recalled that MGM had sought him for the role of Emperor Nero, but dithered for months, refusing to commit. During this time, he received numerous telegrams from the studio, one of which stated that they were concerned that he might be too young to play the notorious Roman Emperor. Ustinov replied that Emperor Nero died when he was thirty, and that if they waited much longer, he'd be too old. The studio cabled back: "Historical research has proved you correct. You have the part." Coincidentally (or not), Ustinov was 30 years old when this movie was released. See more » |
| Goofs | Whilst the arena where the Christian executions take place has an elaborate ornament at its center, no such center would ever actually have such an ornament, as it would block the view for patrons on the other side. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Atlantis: The Lost Continent (1961). See more » |
| Quotes |
Petronius:
[in his dying letter to Nero]
To Nero, Emperor of Rome, Master of the World, Divine Pontiff. I know that my death will be a disappointment to you, since you wished to render me this service yourself. To be born in your reign is a miscalculation; but to die in it is a joy. I can forgive you for murdering your wife and your mother, for burning our beloved Rome, for befouling our fair country with the stench of your crimes. But one thing I cannot forgive - the boredom of having to listen to your verses, your second-rate songs, your mediocre performances. Adhere to your special gifts, Nero - murder and arson, betrayal and terror. Mutilate your subjects if you must; but with my last breath I beg you - do not mutilate the arts. Fare well, but compose no more music. Brutalize the people, but do not bore them, as you have bored to death your friend, the late Gaius Petronius. See more » |