Jul 26th
The Sign of the Cross***  
(US 1932)
Paramount. 123m. bw   

A Roman prefect defies Nero and Poppea by falling in love with a Christian girl, who is condemned to the lions arena.
Classic Hollywood example of De Mille having his cake and eating it: telling a story of Christian sacrifice whilst also revelling in the debauchery of ancient Rome. In spite of some anachronistic American accents in this early Sound epic, he manages to pull out all the stops in depicting the Rome of legend, including the barbaric arena whilst the audience revels and Nero fiddles, etc.

Written by: Waldemar Young, Sidney Buchman, based on the play by Wilson Barrett.
Producer/Director: Cecil B. de Mille.
Starring: Fredric March, Elissa Landi, Charles Laughton, Claudette Colbert, Ian Keith, Arthur Hohl, Harry Beresford, Tommy Conlon, Charles Middleton.
Photography: Karl Struss.
Music: Rudolph G. Kopp.
Art Direction/Costume: Mitchell Leisen.