Quo Vadis

Nominated for eight Oscars (including “Best Picture”) Quo Vadis is the powerful story of a Roman soldier whose romance with a beautiful woman puts him at deadly odds with Emperor Nero. Robert Taylor plays Marcus Vinicius, commander of Rome's 14th Legion and in love with Lygia (Oscar winner Deborah Kerr), a member of the Christian sect accused of undermining Roman values. Oscar winner Peter Ustinov, wrapped in purple-robed petulance, is the all-powerful Nero. The destinies of these three and of the Empire play out in a tale whose visual highlights include the parade of triumphant legions, the burning of Rome and the martyrdom of Christmas before cheering, bread-and-circus throngs. Based on the classic novel by Henry Sienkiewicz and directed by Oscar-winner director/producer Mervyn LeRoy (The Wizard of Oz, Little Caesar), film fans will also want to be on the lookout for cameos by screen icons Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren.