The Sign of the Cross

An intriguing religious drama with the typical Cecil B. DeMille flourishes. Charles Laughton expertly plays an effeminite Nero and is quite capably supported by Frederic March and Claudette Colbert, quite good as Poppaea A scorching lesbian dance and a scantily clad slave boy spurred protests from religious groups of that era. Scenes of sex and violence were eventually trimmed from the film to its now 118 minutes running time. It's all typically DeMille with more show than substance. A curiosity piece at best.