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Three truely Roman women in THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

posted 19 years ago by marcin_kukuczka
7 replies | jump to latest

1. Poppaea (Claudette Colbert)
2. Ancaria (Joyzelle)
3. Dacia (Vivian Tobin)

The first character is historical, the other two are fictitious characters. There has been much said about Poppaea in DeMille's movie and nothing else is left than conclude Colbert's performance as WONDERFUL, THE VERY BEST THAT MAKES THIS FILM A MUST SEE! Colbert makes Poppaea an "object of desire" throughout. So to speak, wish there were more scenes with her. The other two women characters also add much pleasure and sensuality to the film. Ancaria is thought to be "the most wicked and talented woman in Rome" (at the same time a lesbian which is proved by her seduction on Mercia), while Dacia, at first, seems to be a proper matron but later we realize that she is after Poppaea. The moment she joins the empress in the milk bath was cut in the 1944 version since this appeared to indicate high immorality.

Well, as you see, you don't have to be very fond of religious epics to highly enjoy THE SIGN OF THE CROSS... If you are, the film supplies you with great reflections on the cross, if you aren't, your pleasure will be most likely directed more towards the Roman characters.

[–] hotspurpagg 16 years ago

I was amused at how the patrician women all looked and behaved like flappers from that era! A very engrossing film -- Colbert is more sexy in this than most of the actresses in today's movies.

[–] Tashtago 16 years ago

Agreed. Colbert was very sexy in this role. Made me wonder what the hell Fredric March was doing with the dull as dishwater Christian, she looked like a female version of Robert Plant but without the pipes.

[–] perfectpawn 15 years ago

>>Made me wonder what the hell Fredric March was doing with the dull as dishwater Christian, she looked like a female version of Robert Plant but without the pipes.<<

So true!!

I don't know what DeMille was thinking...he had Laughton and Colbert, but he spent most of the running time on sappy maudlin Xtian glurge. But I guess that's what the people wanted at the time.

To tell the truth, I was on the side of the Romans throughout this movie...lots of this thing had me laughing out loud.

And I fell in love with Colbert. Too bad she was born 71 years before I was...!

[–] Mithrandir-Olorin22 12 years ago

I found Mercia the sexiest Woman in the film actually, did you see that Smile she has during the Dance scene?

"It's not about money.... It's about sending a Message..... Everything Burns!!!"

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Mithrandir-Olorin888 12 years ago

the idea that this decadence was the Norm of Roman society itself often viewed as Christian propaganda.

Poppaea in my opinion was NOT how she's portrayed in this film and Quo Vadis, I trust what Josephus has to say about her, before Tacticus, Seutonius or Cassius Dio.

Lesbian is not really proper to use her, the obsession with Labeling people based on who their attracted to didn't exist back then, everyone was simply assumed to be what we'd call Bi.