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The Sign of the Cross

Released Nov 30, 1932 1h 58m History Drama List
55% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
After Emperor Nero (Charles Laughton) blames the Christians for burning Rome, he orders that they be sent to the Colosseum. While rounding them up, military leader Marcus Superbus (Fredric March) meets pretty young Mercia (Elissa Landi), who begs him to free her stepfather, Titus (Arthur Hohl). Marcus does so with the hope of seducing her but is unsuccessful. Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert), who has her eye on Marcus, soon learns of Mercia and, out of jealousy, orders her fed to the lions.

Critics Reviews

View All (11) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety Cast is uniformly good, but only one exceptional performance is registered. That's Laughton's. Jan 30, 2009 Full Review Derek Adams Time Out Not for people with scruples. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills All jaw-dropping is premature, however, before the real climax here... Oct 2, 2020 Full Review James Wegg JWR Each god is only a fantasy Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 29, 2020 Full Review James Kendrick Q Network Film Desk an effective portrait of human sadism as entertainment, although it is hard not to feel confused as to whether we're watching Rome's sadism or DeMille's Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 13, 2020 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid This early, pre-code Cecil B. DeMille spectacular is famous for pretending to be a religious epic, while actually being full of sex and violence. Rated: 3/4 Aug 29, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (22) audience reviews
StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 58 minutes based on historical events!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/19/23 Full Review joe s A typical Cecil B.DeMille production exhibiting the director's tastelessness, corny dialog, and spectacle. Colbert bathes in mare's milk (real mare's milk which after awhile turned into cheese [true]adding a proper aroma to the film). March plays a Roman with the stupid name of Marcus Superbus . It is only worth it to see Laughton's campy Nero with a new nose and a handsome nude man by his side. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william d Perhaps it was considered an epic spectacle in 1932, but now the dialogue and acting seem stiff and wooden. Skip ahead about 90 minutes and just watch the arena scenes. Those are kind of interesting. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review charles f Good classic, it has it's moments. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The best epic movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review kevin w Cecil B. DeMille again, this time in the Rome of Emperor Nero, imagining on film for his breathless fans what it was like for Christians in those days of public executions for entertainment and propaganda sake. Laughton (with a ridiculous nose piece) is the depraved ("because he's homosexual") Nero, existing only for the next moment's debauchery. Colbert (barely dressed for the length of the film) is his manipulating wife and the real power in town (and herself a slave to her unbridled passions). And March plays Nero's muscle (loyal to Nero mainly as it allows him his vices). The film exists to make money, and DeMille's plan is simple: bathe the yokels in the sin they're curious about, and then pretend to redeem them with some bargain basement piety (sort of). It's all a setup for the last portion of the film wherein DeMille unleashes his undeniably interesting spectacle of what a day at the Colosseum might've been like. He might've been a populist, but he knew his audience, as any good carny does. Not to be missed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Sign of the Cross

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The Sign of the Cross

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Movie Info

Synopsis After Emperor Nero (Charles Laughton) blames the Christians for burning Rome, he orders that they be sent to the Colosseum. While rounding them up, military leader Marcus Superbus (Fredric March) meets pretty young Mercia (Elissa Landi), who begs him to free her stepfather, Titus (Arthur Hohl). Marcus does so with the hope of seducing her but is unsuccessful. Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert), who has her eye on Marcus, soon learns of Mercia and, out of jealousy, orders her fed to the lions.
Director
Cecil B. DeMille
Producer
Cecil B. DeMille
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 30, 1932, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 10, 2011
Runtime
1h 58m