Quo Vadis?

Released Feb 23, 1951

2h 51m

History

Drama

List

84%

19 Reviews

Tomatometer

73%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Returning from a military campaign abroad, General Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) discovers that a new religion has taken hold in Rome: Christianity. When Vinicius encounters Lygia (Deborah Kerr), a follower of the strange religion, he quickly becomes smitten and tries to win her affections. Lygia is reluctant due to their differing beliefs. Complicating matters is the crazed Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov), who blames the Christians for his own burning of Rome, beginning a wave of persecution.

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Anthony J

Dated cornball stuff with some hoards-of-extras spectacle thrown in. Robert Taylor plays a Roman general like a wooden American. A long-winded waste of time. except for Ustinov's Nero, who is perfectly played just short for funny.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

Full Review

Alec B

Peter Ustinov is a great Nero, but like a lot of these epics it is mostly dull and overly melodramatic.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Alan R

A watchable movie typical for the blockbuster sword 'n' sandal movies made at the time (1951). I enjoyed especially the sets and costumes and the over-the-top scenes. If made today, Q. V. would be very different: more computer technology and digital scenery. Perhaps lower-key and less cheesy , syrupy emotional scenes. But who knows? One incorrect depiction was the Rome model shown to Nero (excellent performance by Peter Ustinov): the Colosseum and the Pantheon would be built after the reign of that monster "Adolf" Nero-tler. The Colosseum in the late 70s CE, and the Pantheon in its present form during the reign of Hadrian in the 2nd century CE. One more sobering thought: In the 200-300 years following Emperor Constantine's "legalization" of Christianity, more Christians were killed by each other due to internal theological disputes than were slaughtered during the first three centuries of their existence.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/18/23

Full Review

huck d

This has to be the most underrated if not completely lost epic from the '50s -- a true masterpiece that deserves a "resurrection" to thrill a new generation. A magnificent love story -- of both woman and God -- set in Nero's Rome. An unimaginably young Peter Ustinov plays Nero with all the neurotic, self-indulgent, maleficence that would earn him an Oscar nomination. His empress, the statuesque and stunningly beautiful Patricia Laffan perfectly captures the cold-hearted evil that would inspire similar roles for years to come. The Roman hostage and striking red-head Deborah Kerr walks the tightrope between her faith and her love for a Roman commander whose eyes she opens to the new world that Christianity would bring to Rome. While the Christian messaging is certainly more direct and overpowering than Ben-Hur, the film making is extraordinary, the acting flawless, and it was such a huge box office success, it is said Quo Vadis (Latin for Wither goest Thou) single handedly saved MGM from bankruptcy. Don't let the odd title deter you, this is a must see treasure.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/23

Full Review

Daryl S

Excellent movie. Should appeal especially to catholic viewers as it highlights Peters leadership. This would be a classic along the line of Ben Hur with a better leading actor.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Joe S

An overly long film, but it does give some spectacle. Robert Taylor's flat colorless voice is a great distraction and makes it impossible to accept his character, and (as he is the lead) the picture's doomed. Peter Ustinov as Nero overacts the part in a great hammy unbelievable performance, but at least he's fun. Leo Glenn as Petronius is the only one who comes off fine. Has there ever been a religious picture that didn't feature Finlay Currie or Felix Aylmer ? Because here they are again. There's a great Polish version made in 2001 that puts this one to shame!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Robert Taylor

Marcus Vinicius

Deborah Kerr

Lygia

Peter Ustinov

Nero

Leo Genn

Petronius

Patricia Laffan

Poppaea

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Quo Vadls is the most spectacular film since the days of Ben Hur and Intolerance. But as an epic it does not have the corn of De Mille -- nor the excitement.

Jul 30, 2019

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

It was made, we suspect, for those who like grandeur and noise -- and no punctuation. It will probably be a vast success.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 23, 2011

Full Review

Time Out

It does last virtually three hours, and along the way does have stretches of tedium, but LeRoy invests most of it with pace, true spectacle, and not a little imagination.

Mar 23, 2011

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

A biblical epic that elevates its melodrama with solid performances and bombastic sets that add value to the uchronic spectacle about the corruption of the Roman empire. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 7/10

Mar 30, 2024

Full Review

André Bazin

L'Obs (France)

Conscientious work has been done with the means to do it, but one would look in vain here for the grain of amused madness one would find in a similar film by Cecil B. DeMille.

Dec 7, 2021

Full Review

TV Guide

The epic Quo Vadis offers a spectacular cast to match its overwhelming production.

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 23, 2011

Full Review

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Synopsis

Returning from a military campaign abroad, General Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) discovers that a new religion has taken hold in Rome: Christianity. When Vinicius encounters Lygia (Deborah Kerr), a follower of the strange religion, he quickly becomes smitten and tries to win her affections. Lygia is reluctant due to their differing beliefs. Complicating matters is the crazed Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov), who blames the Christians for his own burning of Rome, beginning a wave of persecution.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter: S.N. Behrman, Sonya Levien, John Lee Mahin, Henryk Sienkiewicz
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 1951, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 2h 51m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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