Quo Vadis

In 1959, box-office smash Ben-Hur swept the Oscars. Eight years before, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer launched its string of ‘50s Biblical epics with this splashy adaptation of Henryk Sienkiewicz's bestseller Quo Vadis, revolving around a Roman general whose love for a Christian maiden could result in both of them becoming lion fodder under Nero's persecution. Truth be told, Quo Vadis is not a great film: the script, while admittedly more literate than many others in the genre, still boasts its share of howlers; Mervyn LeRoy's direction is merely workmanlike; and Robert Taylor is rather too blustery as the soldier smitten with Deborah Kerr's lovely Christian. But it is a big, opulent sword-and-sandal extravaganza that features, among other memorable moments, a lavish reenactment of the Great Fire of 64 C.E., while also showcasing the wonderfully hammy Oscar-nominated performance of Peter Ustinov as Nero. Quo Vadis is presented here in all its restored and remastered glory, with composer Miklos Rozsa's overture and exit music reinserted. DVD extras include an insightful audio commentary by F.X. Feeney (even if some historical observations are oversimplified), as well as an excellent retrospective “making-of” documentary that not only traces the film's production but also looks at its place in the Hollywood pantheon of ancient epics. Recommended. (F. Swietek)