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• Claudette Colbert the star of this film

  • Mr. Blandings
  • 8/12/11

  While she only has a relatively minor role in this DeMille epic, Ms. Colbert easily steals the show as the strong-willed and controlling wife of the corrupt and insane Nero. Claudette looks absolutely stunning in every scene, particularly in the titillating milk bath scene of this pre-code film. The scenes of arena violence, on the other hand, is hard to watch, but the gratuity of the spectacle does serve to show how differently citizens of decadent Rome reacted to their social decline -- some cheered it on with amusement and fervour, while others tried to pry their eyes away from the horror of it all.

• you might not have noticed but...

  • Mr. Sardonicus
  • 9/6/08

  In the final scenes of the film actor John Carradine's voice can be heard shouting to Chas laughton as nero "Those of us who are about to die-- salute you!" in the final scenes he is also in the line of christians ascending the stone staircase awaiting to be devoured by lions in the arena..to my knowledge he was not given screen credit for his contributions... Sardonicus...

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