|
Actors: Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, Charles Laughton
|
|
| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Sign of the Cross |
|---|
Although he lacked the artistic vision and psychological insight of D.W. Griffith, Cecil B. DeMille was one of the great innovators in the history of American movies. De Mille not only had a fondness for monumental subjects but a monumental style of making movies that has rarely been equalled, and this story of Christians suffering persecution during the reign of Nero offered a perfect showcase for his talents. After the Roman commander Marcus Superbus (Fredric March) falls in love with the Christian girl Mercia (Elissa Landi), he tries to intercede on the behalf of the persecuted sect, and ultimately follows her to a martyr's death in the arena. But the most memorable performances are contributed by Charles Laughton as the psychotic Nero and Claudette Colbert as his depraved consort Poppaea. The picture begins in medias res with the burning of Rome as Nero looks on, and the action never falters right up to the final scenes of the Christians awaiting their execution in prison. De Mille was irresistably drawn to stories of high-class debauchery, and Sign of the Cross supplied ample scope for his febrile imagination to run amok.
--Dave C, Resident Scholar
|
| Analysis of Sign of the Cross |
|---|
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
books by breaking them down into many different literary
elements, all of which are searchable (click here). |
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- distant past
Polit/Social/Race/Gender activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- liberal/lefty activism
- religious issues
How much story is philosophy rather than plot?
- 5 (an average amount)
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Culture clash?
- being oppressed by outside culture
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- senior military
Age:
- 20's-30's
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- bulging muscles
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Eccentric:
Yes
- emotionally unstable
- obsessed
- deluded
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
City?
Yes
City:
- dangerous
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- very explicit references to deaths and torture
Movie makes you feel...
- excited
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- orgies
- lesbians!
- seeing nude male butt
Check here if B&W
Yes
|
| Most similar reviews by Gordonator ranking |
|---|
| Ivan the Terrible Part I
starring Nicolai Cherkasov
|
| Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight
starring Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau, Margaret Rutherford, John Gielgud, Marina Vlady, Keith Baxter, Norman Rodway, Michael Aldridge, Tony Beckley, Fernando Re
|
| A Man For All Seasons (1988 TV)
starring Charlton Heston, Vanessa Redgrave, Sir John Gielgud, Roy Kinnear, Martin Chamberlain
|
| Arabian Nights
starring Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Franco Merli
|
| Mulan
starring Eddie Murphy
|
|
Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
|
