Quo Vadis (1951)
The 1950s produced many, many period piece epics. Most of them weren’t very good, which is why the classics we watch every Easter are so revered. But in Technicolor splendor, it’s easy to see why Hollywood was so anxious to expose audiences to the grand world of King Arthur, Robin Hood, and other Biblical or Middle Ages stories.
Quo Vadis is one of the many, and like its counterparts, it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd, despite a very valiant effort. On paper, it’s pretty similar to Ben-Hur: it’s set and filmed in Rome, has several epic adventurous scenes that include special effects and thousands of extras, and the plot involves cruel Roman rule and the birth of Christianity. There’s even a chariot race scene!
Although nominated for eight Oscars, Quo Vadis isn’t the film most of us remember fondly and watch every April. Why not? It’s the acting. Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr star in this one, and Robert Taylor is no match for Charlton Heston’s emotional range. Every time he’s on the screen you either want to burst out laughing or leave the room in search of more popcorn. He’s just awful, and unfortunately, he’s the lead. Even great heavyweight Deborah Kerr is stinky in this movie, and it’s one of the reasons I couldn’t stand her for over ten years until I watched other, more palatable films.
The one exception is Peter Ustinov, who plays Emperor Nero. He was rewarded for his emotional performance at both the Oscars and the Rags, and it’s no wonder he was quickly hailed as the next Charles Laughton. It’s a real pity that his incredible scenes had to be sandwiched into such a terrible movie and bookended by lousy performances from his costars. If you never liked him before, rent this movie and fast-forward the scenes when he’s not in them; you’ll change your mind.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Deborah Kerr movies here!
Quo Vadis is one of the many, and like its counterparts, it doesn’t really stand out from the crowd, despite a very valiant effort. On paper, it’s pretty similar to Ben-Hur: it’s set and filmed in Rome, has several epic adventurous scenes that include special effects and thousands of extras, and the plot involves cruel Roman rule and the birth of Christianity. There’s even a chariot race scene!
Although nominated for eight Oscars, Quo Vadis isn’t the film most of us remember fondly and watch every April. Why not? It’s the acting. Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr star in this one, and Robert Taylor is no match for Charlton Heston’s emotional range. Every time he’s on the screen you either want to burst out laughing or leave the room in search of more popcorn. He’s just awful, and unfortunately, he’s the lead. Even great heavyweight Deborah Kerr is stinky in this movie, and it’s one of the reasons I couldn’t stand her for over ten years until I watched other, more palatable films.
The one exception is Peter Ustinov, who plays Emperor Nero. He was rewarded for his emotional performance at both the Oscars and the Rags, and it’s no wonder he was quickly hailed as the next Charles Laughton. It’s a real pity that his incredible scenes had to be sandwiched into such a terrible movie and bookended by lousy performances from his costars. If you never liked him before, rent this movie and fast-forward the scenes when he’s not in them; you’ll change your mind.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Deborah Kerr movies here!