Constantine and the Cross

Constantine and the Cross (AKA: Costantino il grande) is a 1961 historical drama film about the early career of the emperor Constantine, who first legalized and then adopted Christianity in the early 4th century. The fictionalised film only stretches as far into his life as the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in AD 312.

Constantine and the Cross
Directed byLionello De Felice
Produced byMino Loy
Luciano Martino
Written byLionello De Felice
Michael Audley (English dialogue)
StarringCornel Wilde
Belinda Lee
Massimo Serato
Music byMario Nascimbene
CinematographyMassimo Dallamano
Distributed byEmbassy Pictures (USA)
Release date
1961
1963 (US)
Running time
120 min
CountryItaly
Yugoslavia

It was also known as Constantine the Great or Constantino il Grande - In Hoc Signo Vinces.[1]

Premise

Constantine wins a battle and is sent to Rome. One the way he and his friend Hadrian are attacked by bandits. Hadrian is nursed back to health by some Christians, including Livia. The bandits were sent by Maxentius, Constantine's rival for power.

Constantine watches some Christians be eaten by the lions. He jumps into the arena to defend a surviving child, and asks for the other Christians to be set free.

Livia is arrested. Hadrian, who has fallen in love with her, arranges for her to escape from prison. Constantine is blamed, Maxentius persecutes Christians and attacks Constantine in Gaul.

Cast

Production

Filming took place in August 1960, with locations in Yugoslavia and studio work in Rome.[2] While filming a scene in Rome Cornel Wilde was scratched by a lion.[3] Filming was completed by November.[4]

Reception

The New York Times called it "one of those ponderous costumed tabloids that's trampled history to death and turned what's left of its fragments into boring banalities."[5]

The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the familiar ingredients of this tired spectacle - lions, fair haired Christian girls, torture chambers, battles, assassination attempts, intrigue - fail to arouse any noticeable excitement in the director or the cast."[1]

gollark: I know what they are ish, what are you doing with them?
gollark: Interesting. What is „solenoid„?
gollark: Hmm. I thought you were doing nothing and ojas/momin were doing the course.
gollark: It is quite long. I don't actually read paragraphs with more than 3 lines in them.
gollark: How is what hard?

See also

References
  1. CONSTANTINE THE GREAT "(Costantino Il Grande - In Hoc Signo Vinces)" Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 29, Iss. 336, (Jan 1, 1962): 153.
  2. This Hose for Exhibition With 36 others Bristow, Winifred. Picture Show; London (Aug 27, 1960): 3-4.
  3. Wilde Scratched by Lion New York Times 1 Sep 1960: 30.
  4. "Rome". Variety. 16 November 1960. p. 77.
  5. The Screen: 'Constantine' Tramples History to Death The Cast By BOSLEY CROWTHER Special to The New York Times 14 Mar 1963: 8.
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