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Quo Vadis (Two-Disc Special Edition) | 
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| Directors: Anthony Mann, Mervyn Leroy
Actors: Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov, Patricia Laffan
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $20.97
Buy New: $13.15
You Save: $7.82 (37%)
New (34) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $13.15
Rating:  54 reviews
Sales Rank: 906
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Original Recording Remastered, Special Edition, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 171
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 1000039880
UPC: 883929026623
EAN: 0883929026623
ASIN: B00005JN8Z
Theatrical Release Date: November 8, 1951
Release Date: November 11, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008
Amazon.com
"Welcome to Nero's House of Women" greets a concubine to a slave girl, Lygia (Deborah Kerr). Later this self-same greeter reveals that she, too, like Lygia, is really a fellow Christian neophyte. And it's that mixture of tawdry Hollywood sex and a strong Christian message that makes this film an enjoyable "gentiles and gladiators" flick. Marcus Vinicius returns home after conquering the Britons to find that Rome is infected with a crazy new sect called Christians and that his beloved emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov, roly-poly and wicked) has become increasingly wacky. Marcus tries his centurion wiles on Lygia, and she's smitten, but she's also a Christian convert and begs Marcus not to force her to choose between him and her god. The Christians have a tough go of it, with martyrdom in the Coliseum as punishment for belonging to the new religion in town. Though three hours long, director Mervyn LeRoy's film always has something going on. It could help you enjoyably kill any rainy Sunday afternoon. --Keith Simanton
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| Customer Reviews: Read 49 more reviews...
 Finally - An Official 2 Disc Release Of A Classic Epic - November 24, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
"Nothing do I see that is not perfection".
At last one of the great classic Hollywood blockbuster epics of the early fifties has finally found its rightful DVD home with this exceptional release from Warner Home Video!
Produced by MGM in 1951 "Quo Vadis" was Hollywood's first wallop in the fight against the onslaught of television. Available at first and for many years only on VHS tape it then began to appear on a plethora of foreign DVDs and with varying quality - it has to be said. One such unfortunate issue, which originated in Korea, was released without any opening credits whatsoever! I kid you not!
That said, we now, thankfully, have it in our possession and a superb and pristine double disc issue it is! With perfect colour resolution
Robert Surtees' brilliant Acadamy Award nominated cinematography comes across with well defined and plush imagery. With gorgeous colours for the
costumes worn by the various cast members particularly dazzling is the golden uniform as worn by star Robert Taylor as he proudly bears himself aboard his chariot during his Triumphal March through Rome.
Also of note is, of course, Miklos Rozsa's Acadamy Award nominated score.
His main Roman motif, bold and strong, dominates the scenes in the Forum and in the arena. In gentler mode is his beautiful love theme for the scenes with the star struck lovers Marcus and Lygia. Then there's the frenetic bacchanal-like Hymn of the Vestal Virgins immediatly followed by the robust and heroic Triumphal March. Also heard on this issue, and for the first time since the original Roadshow release 56 years ago, is Rozsa's Overture and Exit Music. The great composer would barely eclipse the "Vadis" score eight years later with his Oscar winning music for "Ben Hur".
The assembled cast are uniformly excellent except perhaps the syrupy and simpering performance of Deborah Kerr as Lygia. But Robert Taylor is fine in what is probaly his best known role as the Legion commander Marcus Vinicius. Outstanding is British actor Leo Genn as Petronious - the sardonic and sarcastic confidante of the tyrannical Emperor Nero. And of course there is the great Peter Ustinov chewing up every bit of scenery there is as the totally crazed and looney Nero. Both Ustinov and Leo Genn were nominated for Acadamy Awards.
The picture is also buoyed by some elaborate and colourful set pieces - the vestal virgins singing and wildly dancing in homage to the goddess Vesta, the spectacular Triumphal March of the Roman legions taking the salute from Nero as it passes the great palace, the exciting Chariot Chase and the brilliantly staged burning of Rome. And not forgetting the harrowing arena scenes as the lions are released on the hymn-singing christians.
These scenes all come across extremely well on this excellent DVD which comes with a trailer, an excellent 45 minute featurette "Quo Vadis & the Genesis Of The Biblical Epic" and a commentary by one F.X.Feeney who neglects to tell us that the opening narration is by MGM favourite Walter Pidgeon (uncredited) and persists in calling the leading lady's character Lega instead of Lygia. But it's still a DVD that every devotee will have
to have in their collection!
Here's looking forward to the Blue Ray version promised for early 2009!
 Great Film But the Dvd is a Rip-Off November 15, 2008
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
Quo Vadis is one of those large scale biblical epics that has withstood
the test of time. and as they did with special edition dvds of Ryan's
Daughter, Dr. Zhivago, Mutiny on the Bounty, Grand Prix, Ben-Hur and How
The West Was Won Warner Brothers Home Video has done a splendid job of
restoring and remastering the film. but why the break??? a 2hr.52min.film
can easily fit on one side of one disc.
NOT A WIDESCREEN FILM November 14, 2008
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
It bares repeating that this film was made before the invention of Cinemascope or any widescreen process. So, I don't want to hear anyone complaining about this being a "Full Screen Version". That is the only way it can be viewed. Also, even though Miklos Rozza's score is not as dramatic as Ben Hur, or any others he composed during this time period, there is obvious similarities to Ben Hur. Close to the end of the film, the march he used at the end of the Chariot Race of Ben Hur is exactly duplicated note for note. Also, throughout the film, those with a good ear will notice other similarities to Ben Hur.
 Big disappointment November 13, 2008
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
I have been waiting for "Quo Vadis " on DVD for years to complete the " Ben Hur" , " King of Kings " trilogy. Considereing the stunning
presentation of "King of Kings " I was sure "Quo Vadis was going to be on an equal par especially since it was remastered in an ultraresolution.
What a disappointment. Image appeared flat and the technicolor was pale and lackluster. A far cry from the "King of Kings" presentation.
I hope the blu ray disc due out for Easter is an improvement.
A Superb Religious Epic Finally Restored. November 10, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Following a long-overdue restoration process, this 2-Disc special edition of MGM's epic Quo Vadis is finally available. Quo Vadis easily ranks among Ben-Hur, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and The Ten Commandments as one of the greatest religious epics ever. Adapted from Henryk Sienkiewicz's 1895 historical novel, Quo Vadis, the 1951 film stars Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn, Peter Ustinov, with Finlay Currie, Felix Aylmer and Abraham Sofaer. The film's title refers to a meeting between St Peter and Jesus in the New Testament where Peter, fleeing from the persecution of Emperor Nero, asked Jesus, "Domine, quo vadis?" (Lord, whither goest thou?). Jesus replied, "Whither I go, thou can not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." Peter returned to Rome where he was crucified at the foot of the Vatican Hill.
Set in Rome under during the reign of the Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov) around AD 64, Quo Vadis chronicles the love story between a young slave girl Lygia (Deborah Kerr), and a Roman General, Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor), while also depicting the larger conflict between Christianity and the corruption of the Roman Empire. Lygia is a Christian convert, and Marcus Vinicius is a warrior. Their unlikely love story unfolds against a background of Nero's insane atrocities. Few would disagree that Ustinov sets the standard for film villains, and his performance as the Emperor Nero carries the three-hour film. He burns Rome and blames the Christians. He crucifies Peter upside-down. He throws the Christians to the lions. If Ustinov's performance isn't reason enough to experience this film, then the set designs, costumes, and musical score are.
Despite its DVD restoration, viewers deserve to experience Quo Vadis on the big screen. Although it did not win in any category, it was nominated for eight Academy Awards. Peter Ustinov won the Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor. Highly recommended.
G. Merritt
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