Drama,History,Romance
United States of America
Quo Vadis is a historical drama film based on the novel of the same name by Henryk Sienkiewicz. The film is set in ancient Rome during the rule of Emperor Nero. General Marcus Vinicius (played by Robert Taylor) returns to Rome from battle seeking to find meaning in his life. He is quickly drawn to the beautiful Lygia (played by Deborah Kerr), a devout Christian who he first sees in the company of her fellow followers.
As Vinicius pursues Lygia, he faces obstacles from both her Christian beliefs and the political turmoil of the era. Nero (played by Peter Ustinov) is shown as a mad and erratic ruler who is obsessed with his own power and pleasure. He blames the Christians for the fire that engulfs Rome and orders their persecution throughout the city.
Despite this danger, Vinicius becomes a Christian himself and helps to hide Lygia as Nero's forces hunt her down. Along the way, he meets with the apostle Peter (played by Finlay Currie) who inspires him with the teachings of Christ. As Vinicius and Lygia struggle to survive in this chaotic world, they come to realize that their own faith and love for each other may be the only things that can save them.
The film is noted for its lavish sets and costumes, as well as its all-star cast that includes not only the leads mentioned above, but also Leo Genn as Petronius, a sophisticated courtier who serves as a foil to Nero's excesses, and Patricia Laffan as Poppaea, Nero's scheming wife. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning numerous awards and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the 1950s.
