"SIGN OF THE CROSS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 87, 13 April 1933, Page 8

"SIGN OF THE CROSS."

FOR REGENT ON SATURDAY.

One o£ the greatest names of picturedom, that of Cecil B. d.e Mille, was associated directly with the production of "The Sign of the Cross, -which opens a long-run season at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. The maker of 58 pictures, including "The Ten Commandments (1923) and "The King of Kings (19-7), this master of. the spectacular on the silent screen reintroduces this tamo us aspect of film into his latest effort. , c The film tells of the. dissolute and profligate court of Nero, with its Imperial debauches and licentious "holidays. His beautiful but scheming wife, the Empress Poppaea, who fails in her attempt to carry on a secret intrigue with the handsome and straightforward young Prefect of Rome, Marcus Superbus, is superbly | portrayed by Claudette Colbert. Fredric March, one of the finest of rising dramatic actors, takes the role of Marcus, who is in love with the clean-souled young Christian maid Mercia. Elissa Landi is said to invest this part with something of that ethereal beauty which she has frequently displayed -in her many other mis-cast roles. Lan Keith as Tigellinus, the Emperor's adviser, Tommy Conlon as the boy Stephanus, and Charles Laughton in a 'magnificent performance as Nero,' head a total cast of 7500. Proof of the film's promised success is suggested by the iphenomenal bookings at the . Regent for the first 3?«3k of the etason, I