Quo Vadis (Import All Regions)
|
Our Price: $42.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Quo Vadis (Import All Regions)
Movie Review: TIME/WARNER SHOULD RELEASE THIS FILM ON DVD/ WE ALL NEED IT PRONTO!
Summary: 5 Stars
"Quo Vadis" is a great film Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, Starring: Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Leo Genn and Peter Ustinov with splendid cinematography, fabulous sets and costume designs, magnificently photographed by Robert Surtees. "An Spectacular True 1950Th's Classic."
This jewel of a movie "Quo Vadis" whose copyrights are owned by "TIME-WARNER INC." it's nonetheless still sitting idle at their MGM/UA Turner Collection's Library without any official restoration on DVD, even when released in 1951, it did became the 2nd highest box office take in "Hollywood's Film History." Surpased only by the epic "Gone With The Wind."
The restoration should be presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition. But unfortunately right now, only some appalling import copies of it are circulating the internet, selling some for over $35 a piece.
I can't comprehend why Time Warner Home Video have not noticed this problem and take some action to correct this oversight sooner rather than later. So at this point, that "The Studio" is about to re-issue in September 13, 2005 the "Collector's Edition of Ben-Hur." We feel that "QUO VADIS," which also was produced by Sam Symbalist, could become a very profitable asset, if only this film that deals with "The First Judeo/Christian Holocaust" is put on a fast track by Warner Brothers for a late 2005 release in conjunction with the "Collector's Edition Ben-Hur."
Ideally along also with two other classic films that are at Warner Brothers Film Library Vault. The first one "Land of The Pharaohs" by Director Howard Hawks, Starring: Joan Collins and Jack Hawkins (who also starred in "Ben-Hur.") This film screenplay was done by no other than the great American writer William Faulkner. The second feature is "The 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse," Directed by Vicente Minnelli, Starring: Glenn Ford, Ingrid Thulin, Charles Boyer, Lee J. Cobb and Paul Heinreid, Co-starring: Paul Lucas, Yvette Mimeux and Karl Boehm. It's a searing drama, in which the Nazi monster set brother against brother following the family's destructive linkup to the sinister horrors of Nazi Germany. A perfect match for another very profitable Warner Brothers DVD release dealing whith this Nazi subject matter: The legendary Luchino Visconti's "THE DAMNED."
All these Great Classic films of "Hollywood's 1950Th 'poque" should already have been released on anamorphic widescreen or presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition on DVD. Unfortunately, perhaps due to an oversight by someone at Time Warner Studios, all of them are still gathering star dust at "Warner Brothers Film Library Vault." Without generating any revenues for The Studio or otherwise providing to us some pleasurable joy when we add them to our "DVD Home Video Collections."
Can somebody please remind "TIME-WARNER INC." that they still got "These Three Golden Classic Movies" waiting to be released on DVD, which also can be very apropos films for the times we live.
Movie Review: Nero Burns Rome!
Summary: 5 Stars
The '50 was the "Sword & Sandal Movies" decade. Uncountable films of the genre were released.
The most notable were: "The Ten Commandments" (1956) and "The Robe" (1958). Also in a very good supporting second line "The Egyptian" (1954), "Land of Pharaohs" (1955) and "Helen of Troy" (1956).
"Quo Vadis?" (1951) was in the middle, arguably not as good as the two first but better than the others.
The story starts with the return of victorious General Marcus Vinicius to Rome, where he is received by his uncle Petronius, a very important Counselor at Nero's court.
Marcus is suddenly enamored of Lygia, a Christian slave at his uncle's service.
Lygia due to her beliefs reject the attractive General who tries to forget her in Nero's orgiastic nights, but to no avail.
Nero in his folly starts a sanguinary Christian persecution, after blaming them of burning Rome. Lygia and her faithful bodyguard Ursus are captured and thrown into dungeon to await their martyrdom.
Marcus Vinicius try to rescue them against all odds.
The movie shows Christian personalities as St. Peter and St. Paul and life in the catacombs.
The main characters were given to Robert Taylor as Marcus Vinicius and Deborah Kerr as Lygia whom performed in standard mode. Leo Genn as Petronius is a step above them, but the real outstanding performance was done by Peter Ustinov as the Emperor.
This kind of acting was Peter's specialty, similar good performing may be seen in "The Egyptian" and "Spartacus".
Buddy Baer as a precursor of Stallone and Schwarzenegger was great in his fight against the bull at the Circus.
The movie was credited with seven Oscar Nominations yet won no one! Significantly Ustinov and Genn were candidates for Best Actor in Supportive role.
Musical score authored by Budapest born Miklos Rozsa was also nominated for an Oscar.
It is a very entertaining "Sword and Sandal", if you like this kind of movies do not miss this one!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Movie Review: Masterpiece of Robe and Sandal genre
Summary: 5 Stars
Peter Ustinov is the ultimate Nero. His expressivity as an actor is extraordinary and his magnetic personality takes over the screen. I couldn't wait to see him again, even if his singing made me sick, when he was off and we side tracked to the romance which was always a bore because Deborah Kerr has the sex appeal of a side cabinet, although she is a good actress, I believe she must have been the most dressed, covered and modest woman in Rome at any period in the Empire, as a matter of fact she could have moved into a convent at the arrival of the Middle ages without batting an eyelid.
The best scenes in the movie are the huge public displays: The triumph for Marcus Vinicius (Robert Taylor) was stunning, even by today's standards and the view of Rome simply amazing and an extraordinary feat in a world without computers. The christians in the circus being thrown to the lions in the arena was equally compelling, it felt like being there, in a much more real way than the technical tricks of "Gladiator" for the circus scene, to give a more recent example. But nothing can match the famed fire of Rome. The streets burn form all sides engulfing a screeming, fleeing crowd in panic and it looks more like a documentary, particularly the scenes when the crowds escape through the sewers to the river.The role of Poppaea, Nero's cruel trophy wife was excellently done by Patricia Laffan whom we first see next to her pet cheetahs wearing an extraordinary hairdo and miles of fabric/trailing capes and remains throughout the movie an alter ego of Nero's perversity.She could have made a career playing corporate wives!
This is a movie you can own and enjoy watching over and over again so I suggest buying rather than renting
Movie Review: The Taiwanese DVD is excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
Just a quick note to the people that are still doubting whether or not they should purchase the Taiwanese DVD: I can assure you all it is of excellent quality. The image quality is great and every bit as good as any of the (remastered) classics released in the US and Europe (like Spartacus, for example). The image is full-screen, but like many said before, this movie is from before the Rotoscope era. The box mentions the movie is B&W as well, but this is not the case. The DVD is in full glorious color.
The (Chinese) subtitles will only pop in when you select them in the menu, otherwise the image is subtitle-free. The sound is good as well, albeit 2.0 stereo only.
One catch though: apparently there are multiple versions of this DVD. The DVD I received looks nothing like the one pictured by Amazon; it has a MUCH more beautiful cover with Taylor and Kerr in a romantic pose... as a matter of fact, it's one of the prettiest DVD covers I've ever seen. Thus, I can only tell you that this version (purchased from a Taiwanese seller through Amazon) is the top quality version I received, I don't know about the version pictured on this site.
The text on the box is in English as well: there are no Korean characters on it whatsoever. The only thing that gives away it's Asian origins is the fact that the DVD packaging is slightly larger (I have more Chinese and Korean DVD's that have the same format). But that is no biggie: it only gives the gorgeous cover more chance to shine.
Movie Review: Sir Peter Ustinov Shines-Quo Vadis
Summary: 5 Stars
I would just like to add to all the reviews of Quo Vadis. Any movie with Peter Ustinov is well worth seeing. I have watched QV about 30 times and I never tire of it. Well done in every respect. I have the Laser Disc and the DVD from Taiwan. I bought the DVD from ebay for $5, and the quality is excellent, also it is dual layer.
I have been making my own DVD's by recording from TCM (using a Digital Recorder via Dish Network). I thought I was the only movie buff who was not satisfied by the Hollywood Machine. I have made many of the movie DVD's already mentioned. In particular I would like to ask for "Operation Crossbow" widescreen please, "Fall of the Roman Empire", "El Cid", and all other great movies. After all so much rubbish has been released, and here I'm talking about quality as well. Where ever possible I try not to excede 90 minutes on a DVD, certainly when the source is high quality. Perhaps we will get improved DVD recorders next?