Review of Quo Vadis (1951) by Mark O — 20 Feb 2009

Not nearly as powerful as the book (which I recommend EVERYONE go out and at least try to read-RIGHT NOW) but a lavishly made, well acted and visually exciting adaptation of the classic and timeless story of a "muscle headed" Roman soldier falling in love with a Christian girl and his journey into that secret world of Christianity during Nero's persecution.

What changes there are to the book are mostly simplifications, and omitting of peripheral characters' subplots, and the heart rending violence of the book's chapters on the atrocities committed on the first century Christians are understandable unfilmable for 1951, but while the Christianity of the early church is portrayed without much watering down at all (heck Peter gives the full Gospel and we get St.

Paul on film too), I do wish we could have seen our"hero" Marcus Vinicius transform from lustful arrogant Roman to humble Christian as we do in the book. If you want to see where historical epics (i.

E. putting fictional characters in real places in real historical context) and or Hollywood Biblical epics begin this is it-Ben Hurr, Ten Commandments, and The Robe would not be released for another 4-7 years.

For Christian viewers see it to remember "the great cloud of witnesses" who died because of their faith, and to be reminded that if "Godliness" made money at the Box Office, Hollywood would make films like this again.