Quo Vadis Special Edition

Quo Vadis, filmed in Rome in 1951, is all spectacle with its 30,000 extras and costumes, lavish sets, and lots of real lions! If you like Epics like Ben Hur or DeMille's Ten Commandments you will probably enjoy this almost 3 hour extravaganza. This film holds the record of using the most costumes in one movie - 32,000. It was originally cast in 1949 with Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck as the two romantic leads, but instead stars Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor were finally cast in this 1951 film. Robert Taylor seems stiff and unnatural and his acting seems unfitted to the part. Ms. Kerr, however, must be complimented for her outstanding believability and acting in this movie. She plays Lygia, a devout Christian torn between her faith and the man (Vinicius) she comes to love. It is 64 A.D. and commander Marcus Vinicius returns to Rome with his legions after three years abroad waging battle for his emperor, Nero, a tyrant who believes he is a gifted divinity. While visiting the home of retired General Plautius, Vinicius flirts with a woman he assumes is a household slave, but soon discovers that she is Plautius' daughter Lygia, who rebuffs his crass advances. Vinicius' pursuit of her when she runs away to hide among her fellow Christians brings out the main plot of the film - the rise of Christianity during the reign of Nero. Peter Ustinov's usual magic touch seems to be playing Nero for laughs but as the film progresses, he deftly moves his character into a darker and more dangerous place - a psychopathic monster. All the stops were pulled out in the scenes where Nero burns Rome for the sake of his art. Ustinov's buffoonish character of Nero is sustained throughout the film, but with a surprisingly heightened emotional scene when Nero had to rely on his spurned lover Acte to help him commit suicide as the outraged Roman mob breaks into the palace to murder him. Of course there are great scenes in the coliseum with the Christians vs the Lions as the top billing. During filming apparently the picky cats thought the arena too hot and rushed back to their cool cages. It took meat stuffed costumes to get them out and mug for the camera in the arena. One of the great "Swords and Sandals" flicks that is often overlooked. It is a true 1950s classic. The color in this DVD version is brilliant and stunning, and is especially appreciated during the grand entrance of Vinicius and his legions into Rome. The sound is clean and very good for its 1950s pedigree. They just don't make films with this epic spread any more. All done with zero CGI but with real sets, and a cast of thousands. However, while the advert and folio credits boasted letter box format, mine was formatted to the small screen TV. I should have sent it back immediately for replacement. This epic DEMANDS the format of the "silver screen" not TV! An epic failure on my part. Be sure to read the fine print and be sure of the integrity of the seller. Return it if it is NOT in letter box!

The blu ray version is the best yet of this classic epic movie. A very large budget epic based on a novel. And it features the monstrous nero as played by peter ustinov as a true sociopathic madman. We do know that nero did indeed fiddle as rome burned but he in reality didn't start the fire. However he needed scapegoats and found them in the christians. The movie has him set the city alight but who cares it's still great entertainment! Robert taylor does a great job here as the roman commander and leo glenn as a cynical confidant of NERO is also brilliant. Deborah kerr who never had a bad performance in her life also shines as a roman slavegirl. But back to the print , the blu ray looks alot better than a standard print but they didn't remove artifacts in some scenes. These are rare , like a few lines in the print in a few scenes and several jumps do to loss of movie frames. This should have been fixed (studios need to grasp that fact!) but these instances are rare and mostly the flick just looks outstanding! However they did remove alot of dirt from the print, and restored the color. this is something that even more modern prints are not getting sometimes. This movie was a major hit and it still has a great story and great acting that makes it a great color movie to watch. In black and white spectacle and period shows unless they are film noir ,look flat and take away from the production. This is full color and it was never shot in widescreen so that's not a issue. It's at the ratio it was filmed here. And lastly why doesn't amazon.com seperate vhs, dvd, and especially blu ray reviews? this needs to be fixed. This movie is a great movie that is closer to the novel that true history and that's ok because in any version of reality NERO is the antichrist. His number is 666 after all!. So sit back and enjoy the spectacle of a expensive mgm masterpiece. With deluxe sets and top notch acting. And the best look yet on blu ray , even if there are a few flaws they are not around too much so grab this one instead of a standard dvd. And Wb's should be applauded for the time and effort they did to restore this movie.

Great Movie

This film from the late 40's is as old as dirty as is the true story but it delivers a powerful gut punch to Roman tyranny and gives the viewer an idea of Christian love and faith derived from a relationship with Christ our Lord. There is a bit of fiction in there but none that cannot be overlooked in view of the marvelous results and spectacular splendor of those times when Rome ruled the world. Nero is wonderfully played by Peter Ustinov and Marcus Vanicious is a delight as well is the lovely Lydia. It has an all-star cast and is worth every minute of the three hours you will spend enthralled by it. I have it on DVD and will now add it to my Kindle to watch where and whenever I chose. My favorite actor is Nero (Peter Ustinov). Although his menacing evil is sickening and very real, I think he does the role justice as does his evil queen Popea. She really was his "evil genius" advising him to kill the Christians in the arena with lions and crucifixion. Horrifying yet magnificently done and TRUE. I recommend this film to anyone who wants a glimpse into those wild days when life wasn't worth a plug nickle to the rulers of the day and how God triumphs in the end as it will be in the days ahead. It's grand and colossal with superb acting by a cast of super stars and over 10,000 extras. Don't miss this one!

Artikel ohne Beanstandung. Lieferung auch. Der Film ist sehr alt, aber immer wieder schön zu sehen.

Magnifique film avec le légendaire Robert Taylor

The colours now pop, and when the trumpets blare — YOU KNOW IT! When I started watching DVD's I rarely listened to the commentaries. I had no interest in them. But now it's almost required listening. The commentary usually provides some backstory for the film. It answers questions you might have on how a shot was done, or where a particular sequence was filmed. Did you know Peter Ustinov was only 28 years old when he did this film, and Quo Vadis was his first film? Quo Vadis is eye-popping. Every frame was cleaned up. I found it pleasing to finally see a film the way the way it should be done. No CGI garbage, everything is real. And the sound is fantastic! Came on time, and in great shape.

Sono stato molto incerto prima di scrivere una "recensione" per un film così famoso. Prima la qualità tecnica: ottima sia nel video, ancor oggi sfolgorante di magnici colori e ben studiate ricostruzioni, che nell'audio (consiglio il doppiaggio italiano, indimenticabile). L'avevo in DVD, ho voluto comprarlo anche in Blu-Ray. La qualità audio e video non è molto diversa, mentre il secondo è in un solo disco e forse per questa scelta è un po ' accorciato. Non posso fare un confronto dettagliato, ma per esempio mi è sembrato che il lungo racconto di San Pietro sia stato tagliato. *** Vorrei aggiungere qualche breve osservazione sul rapporto romanzi/film. A volte un film, per merito del regista, dello sceneggiatore e dello scenografo, risulta un vero capolavoro rispetto al romanzo a volte modesto cui si ispira. Faccio solo due esempi: "Ben Hur" con i suoi meritati 11 Oscar è assai più coinvolgente del breve romanzo omonimo; "L'ereditiera" con due giganti come Clift e De Havilland, è un gran capolavoro, molto superiore al pur pregevole "Washington Square" di Henry James, cui si ispira. Al contrario, con tutto il rispetto per chi pensa diversamente, il "Quo Vadis?" di Henryk Sienkiewicz (erroneamente viene omesso il punto interrogativo) è uno dei massimi capolavori fra i romanzi. Benché il Nobel venga conferito ad una persona, non ad una sua opera o scoperta, il romanzo, che all'epoca ebbe un'enorme popolarità, che in parte dura tuttora, certo ha contribuito al prestigioso riconoscimento. Tanto più che l'Autore volle raffigurare, nella prima persecuzione dei cristiani, l'oppressione cui da secoli era soggetta la sua Polonia, stretta e contesa dai due colossi tedesco e russo. Il film omonimo è senza dubbio spettacolare, coinvolgente, splendidamente recitato da un insuperato Peter Ustinov nella lucida e spietata follia di Nerone, da una dolcissima e pur forte Deborah Kerr nella più indimenticabile interpretazione di Licia, nella finissima, anglosassone recitazione di Leo Genn in un Petronio cinico ma anche umanissimo. Ottimi tutti gli altri interpreti, con una riserva per Robert Taylor. Per età, atteggiamenti, recitazione da bullo, è completamente fuori parte. Non dico rispetto al romanzo soltanto, ma anche alla coerenza dello stesso film, salvo i momenti di dolcezza sempre un po' forzata. Non è da addebitare a lui il copione assurdo (un Console addirittura? Che viene dalla Britannia e dalla Gallia per la via Appia? Che viene omaggiato nientemeno che con un Trionfo? Che osa trattare l'Imperatrice come una ninfomane?). Ma nel complesso la sua interpretazione è quasi imbarazzante. *** Il rapporto fra la storia e il film è simile a quello fra romanzo e film: i personaggi e gli avvenimenti storici sono fedelmente rispettati nel romanzo. Il film non rispetta né storia né romanzo. Mi fermo qui. Quanta trascuratezza nei film storici. Neanche il più recente "Gladiatore" si salva: Commodo viene chiamato "principe" come un figlio di un monarca rinascimentale o attuale! Con tutto ciò "QUO VADIS? " va visto più volte ed acquistato, specie al prezzo ridicolo cui sono svenduti questi film intramontabili. E poi può essere un'occasione per leggere il romanzo, che oltre tutto è una delle più commoventi storie d'amore, vero ma senza volgarità, di tutta la letteratura. Inviato dal mio dispositivo Samsung

Livré à temps aussi. Grande qualité d'image. Le Roy n'est pas un grand réalisateur mais il assume le "Cahier des Charges" ! Scènes de foules somptueuses, grand sens du mouvement (sans doute réalisées par des "2e équipe" italiennes). Qu'importe, c'était la règle, les Américains ne parlant pas Italien. Le roman de Henryk Sienkiewicz est fort bien adapté. Comme chez De Mille, les Américains s'en tiennent au canevas, la profondeur manque un peu. De mon lointain souvenir d'adolescence, j'ai retrouvé le côté opulent du film. Robert Taylor, très beau assume bien son personnage. Deborah Kerr, bonne actrice, est toujours très fade malheureusement. Elle a la sensualité d'une savonnette de lavande anglaise ! En comparaison, la belle et glaciale Patricia Laffan est une remarquable Poppée d'une cruauté parfaite. L'Italienne Milly Vitale est belle, très sensuelle, sincèrement amoureuse de "L'Arbitre des Elégances" Fulvien Petrone. Leo Genn, remarquable comédien a un physique curieusement très latin, cheveux et regard noirs ! Sa prestation est impeccable. Reste le "Cas Ustinov" : il est excessif "à l'excès" ! Mais le rôle est démesuré ! (l'acteur aussi !). Est-il mauvais parce qu'il en a fait trop ou parce que le personnage est un cabot de bas étage ? Considérant la grande intelligence et l'immense culture de l'acteur (il parlait cinq langues à la perfection !), c'est peut-être voulu. Le scénario lui donne un rôle non écrit en profondeur et il doit faire avec ce qu'il a. Contrairement à Caligula, qui était réellement fou et épileptique, Néron n'était qu'un histrion de bas étage qui se regardait jouer. Tout était théâtral, au mauvais sens du terme en lui et Ustinov rend cela à merveille ! Acteur "cabot" ou "cabot" parce que le personnage l'est ? Toujours est-il qu'a la vision actuelle du film, il apparaît que l'on se fiche complètement des héros en titre et que seuls Néron, Poppée, Petrone, son esclave et les traîtres subalternes nous intéressent ! Le jeu volontairement outrancier d'Ustinov fascine. C'était l'époque de "L'Usine à Rêves" ! Hollywood y réussissait à merveille ! Les foules sont réellement nombreuses et non dupliquées à l'extrême par des effets numériques ! L'incendie de Rome et Néron jouant et chantant avec son luth, les cruels jeux du Cirque de la fin sont du très grand spectacle et l'excellence de la copie (comme "Samson et Dalila") nous permet de ne pas regretter que l'écran de télé ne soit pas celui du Rex ou de l'ex Gaumont-Palace ! Des films comme on n'en fait plus... Très content de la copie excellement dupliquée ,