|
Sign of the Cross [VHS] | ![Sign of the Cross [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51E06X5ME0L._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Actors: Fredric March, Claudette Colbert, Elissa Landi, Charles Laughton, Ian Keith
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: Video
List Price: $14.98
Buy Used: $6.25
as of 9/2/2010 17:59 CDT details
You Save: $8.73 (58%)
New (12) Used (27) Collectible (2) from $6.25
Rating:  14 reviews
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Discs: 1
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6303382967
UPC: 096898082433
EAN: 9786303382968
Theatrical Release Date: February 10, 1933
Release Date: March 28, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| | |
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Cecil B. DeMille's pre-Hays Code Roman costume drama manages to mix fast-and-loose historical facts with melodrama and titillation. Fredric March plays Marcus Superbus, a Roman soldier and womanizer who jeopardizes his position in Nero's storm troopers by developing a crush on a beautiful Christian girl, Mercia (Elissa Landi). With the Christians keeping their faith far underground, Superbus walks a tightrope between his obligations to the state and his love for Mercia until she and her family are rounded up and hauled off to the arena. The Sign of the Cross is not without its problems; by modern standards, it often seems slow and stagy, and its moralistic message comes across as blunt and heavy-handed. DeMille, however, shrewdly knew how to keep an audience's attention in ways that would have been impossible in subsequent years. Consider Claudette Colbert as the alluring, evil Poppaea, lolling in a bath of asses' milk with her breasts almost completely exposed. Or there's the scene where Marcus tries to get Mercia to loosen up a bit; his idea of a fun time is to take her to an orgy where she's groped by a lesbian during an erotic dance. Then there's Charles Laughton as the decadent Nero, his fey manner abetted by an oiled-up boy-toy at his side in nearly every scene. The climactic scenes at the arena are still violent today, with Christians being gnawed by lions, gladiators knocking each other's brains out, and an Amazon spearing a Pygmy and carrying him around like a kebab! The Sign of the Cross was heavily cut for rerelease in later years but is now available again in its uncut form. --Jerry Renshaw
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
 Sign of the Cross December 1, 2009
Blix (UK)
This is an interesting film. Having watched 'Quo Vadis' with Robert Taylor, I was expecting something similar. Although the acting was not the quality of a 50's 'Hollywood' type film, which cannot be too bad, it was a very nice film to watch. A typical Cecil B. De Mille production. Quaintly 1930's acting standards but moving. If you like the old type films, this is a must. The second time we watched it, it made more sense aesthetically, if that is the right word. Quaint, is the word which keeps coming to mind. Fredric March was his usual dry self, but he really got into the part and was totally enjoyable to watch. Moving. The so-called, 'sexy' scene with the bath of milk, was really not sexy for todays standards, the best bit being the cats drinking it. Buy this if you can.
 In One Word: Shocking! May 28, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This was a powerful and shocking movie, at least for people who see a lot of classic films, including movies from the '30s. I haven't seen this in quite a while but I never forgot seeing a nude Claudette Colbert taking a milk bath!
However, seeing Christians persecuted was not entertaining to me. Although there is no gore, it's pretty brutal to almost see lions eating people, elephants crushing them, alligators ripping them apart, gladiators being speared, stabbed, torn up, etc., etc.I'm sure there were some outcries after this was released.
The Christians, led by Elissa Landi, are inspiring in their bravery in the midst of all this persecution. One wonders how - in real life - they did it. In addition to the torture, violent scenes, this movie was shocking in its day for the nudity.
Regarding other actors, Charles Laughton was convincing as the sick, sadistic "Nero" but Frederic March looked more like a silent film star with all the eye makeup.
Of a final note, it was interesting to see an "intermission" in this film, considering it's just two hours, but that was a long time for a film in 1932.
In the third night of the great fire! October 23, 2006
Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Brutal, dramatic and poignant film that recreates the events after the painful destruction of Rome by Nero's caprice: Marcus is the loyal officer who falls in love with a very young and beaty Christian; but in the meantime Poppea is in love with him, and due that reason she will send to death the woman he loves.
Claudette Colbert as Nero' wife is alluring and seductive: Frederic March as Marcus is believe believable too, but Charles Laughton as Nero simply is I top form.
Sometimes uneven and sometimes taut; but despite of the facts, the script maintains its force all the way through.
A film worth to see it.
The movie that almost founded camp! February 7, 2005
nom-de-nick (United States)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
SOTC is so far over the top, it's a classic in spite of itself. Almost laughable all the way through, and 99% prime ham, but at the same time, you can appreciate the whole DeMille brand-stamp of epic films, as well as what they could get away with pre-code! March is a little stiff as the proper Roman patrician party boy with a crisis (Marcus Superbus, fer Godsake. Even his name is campy). Laughton has never been so, well, shall we say, closet-free in a role. He just exudes ultra-high camp. The villian is appropriately slimy, and Claudette Colbert is on fire, she's so hot. The colesseum scenes are still eye-grabbing, with all kinds of 30s-style violence and suggestion, some very unexpected. A definite must-own by any movie buff, so, naturally, it's out of print with, apparently, no plans for a DVD in sight. Thanks again, studios. Greed always wins out.
PS: If you're consider yourself an easily-offended Christian, don't watch this. If you do, you have no justification to complain afterward.
PPS: If you find THIS film gross/gory, have you ever seen any films made after 1957?
the roar of the lions, the smell of the crowd April 6, 2004
Alejandra Vernon (Long Beach, California)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
Bizarre and lavish, this 1932 epic is an entertaining curiosity piece. It starts in "Rome...the third night of the Great Fire, 64 A.D.", with Charles Laughton as a flabby, insane Nero, playing a harp and taking delight in the conflagration, with his hatred for Christians the basis for the plot.
It meshes together the faith and determination of a few brave souls with the debauchery of the times and mankind's fascination with the misfortunes of others, culminating in the remarkably well filmed Colosseum scene.
From Claudette Colbert, who plays Poppaea, Nero's wife, bathing in milk (and it was real milk, which started to sour and stink on the second of many days of filming), to the crocodiles on the march, there are depictions of every kind of excess and sensual liberty. The costuming is skimpy, even to Frederic March's laughable micro-mini outfits, and the dialogue is often silly with some of the hammiest performances on film, but DeMille's talent for orchestrating crowd scenes, and the good/evil theme of the film make for outrageous and sometimes thought-provoking viewing. It's about depravity, courage, and the triumph (if only spiritually) of the underdog, and well worth seeing for the arena sequence alone.
Based on Wilson Barrett's popular 1895 play, the cinematography by Karl Struss (who in his long career also did the '58 cult favorite "The Fly") is brilliant, with many cross images using light/shade and doors. Total running time is 125 minutes.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
|
|
|
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Thanks for shopping with us!|
At Discount Sports
Center we specialize in providing the widest variety of discount sports
equipment for all sports: Golf, tennis, football, baseball, softball,
basketball, fishing, hunting, and everything in between. Whether you're a
professional or just starting out, we have what you need at special prices.
Quality gear, reasonable prices, and fast shipping make Discount Sports Center
the most enjoyable experience in sports equipment shopping:
Callaway Golf Clubs
Ping Golf
Clubs
King
Cobra Golf Clubs
Taylor Made Golf Clubs
Wilson
Tennis Rackets
Head
Tennis Racquets
Prince
Tennis Rackets
Rawlings Baseball Gloves
Mizuno Gloves
Left-Handed Gloves
Nike
Soccer
Soccer
Cleats
Spyder Paintball Guns
Easton Baseball
Reebok
Tennis Shoes
Easton
Hockey
Discount Fishing Tackle
Elliptical Trainers
Left-Handed Golf Clubs
Spalding Basketball
Running Shoes
Volleyball Equipment
CCM
Skates
More Info
|
|
|
|
![After the Thin Man [VHS]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6301964179.01._AA42_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Count of Monte Cristo [VHS]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/630170875X.01._AA42_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![Sign of the Cross [VHS]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/6303382967.01._AA42_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![After the Thin Man [VHS]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004RSM0.01._AA42_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
![The Masquerader [VHS]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004CPI8.01._AA42_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
