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Ancient Rome comes to life on a grand scale in the epic spectacular The Sign of the Cross from legendary director Cecil B. DeMille (The Ten Commandments). In the year 64 AD, the corrupt and maniacal Emperor Nero (Charles Laughton) torches the city so he can blame the ensuing destruction on the unsuspecting Christians. Meanwhile, Roman Prefect Marcus Superbus (Fredric March) falls for an innocent and beautiful Christian maiden, Mercia (Elissa Landi). When the seductive and wicked Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert) learns that she has a romantic rival for Marcus’s attentions, she conspires with Nero to send all Christians to a chilling death. Filled with some of the most outrageous and breathtaking scenes ever filmed, including the infamous “milk bath”, this pre-code classic is a dynamic testament to Cecil B. DeMille’s visionary style.
Original Release
01/27/1933
US Release
02/10/1933
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Fredric March | Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome / Marcus Superbus - Prefect of Rome |
Elissa Landi | Mercia |
Claudette Colbert | Empress Poppaea |
Charles Laughton | Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar |
Ian Keith | Tigellinus |
Arthur Hohl | Titus |
Harry Beresford | Favius Fontelas |
Tommy Conlon | Stephan |
Ferdinand Gottschalk | Glabrio |
Vivian Tobin | Dacia |
Directors
Writers
Waldemar Young, Sidney Buchman, Wilson Barrett, Dudley Nichols, Henryk Sienkiewicz
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Fredric March | Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome / Marcus Superbus - Prefect of Rome |
Elissa Landi | Mercia |
Claudette Colbert | Empress Poppaea |
Charles Laughton | Emperor Nero Claudius Caesar |
Ian Keith | Tigellinus |
Arthur Hohl | Titus |
Harry Beresford | Favius Fontelas |
Tommy Conlon | Stephan |
Ferdinand Gottschalk | Glabrio |
Vivian Tobin | Dacia |
William V. Mong | Old Man Carrying Child / Licinius |
Joyzelle Joyner | Ancaria |
Richard Alexander | Viturius |
Nat Pendleton | Strabo |
Clarence Burton | Servillius |
Harold Healy | Tybul |
Robert Seiter | Philodemus |
Charles Middleton | Tyros |
Joel Allen | Bombadier (1944 Re-Release Prologue) |
Mischa Auer | Christian in Dungeon |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Cecil B. DeMille | Producer |
Editors
Year | Type | Category | Won |
---|
1934 | Oscar | Best Cinematography | Nominated |