“THE SIGN OF THE CROSS".

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 12

“THE SIGN OF THE CROSS".

attraction at the regent. Stories of the birth of Christianity( and the stern battles fought to keep it alive still wield powerful influence over the generations of today. The whole structure of man s civilisation and well-being is deep rooted in the Christian faith, and a recounting of the struggles of the martyrs of ol.lf who carried the “Sign of the Cross ' through the merciless power of old Rome, stirs to very full life the infinite faith of Christian races in the power of God. If the faith of these early Christians had been loosely held; if their eves had not seen and understood; if the yoke of Rome had been one whit lesser in its ruthlessness; if the sacrifice of Christ on the lonely Hill of Calvary had been of lesser purpose—then Christianity and all it has meant to the world would not have lasted these countless years and remained the same potent power. Because Of these things people are keenlv interested in a retelling of the early struggles of followers of Christ in the days of the ruthless Caesars. Under such circumstances it was natural to find a big audience thronging rhe Regent Theatre in Wanganui on Saturday night to see Cecil B. de MiUe’s world-famed Paramount picture—“ The Sign of the Cross.” In this vehicle of the screen a noted director has exploited the persecution of Christians to retell the world the basic principles of the Christian faith. In days life the present such a picture is desirable. It is true that the theme is eruel and fhat the actual power of Christ is not vvealed in miracles. But the picture is a powerful reminder of the infinite quality of the Christian faith, as a faith, it displays the power of a belief so strong that it could send men and women without fear into an arena of wold beasts. With heads held proudly and lips singing hymns of adoration to God on high, the martvred Christians mounted the steps from dungeons to the Coloseum, and there, before Nero and his profligate hosts, male and female, were done to death.

Certainly this picture is cruel. A picture based on persecution could not be otherwise. But it has a purpose — to remind the world of the quality of those who followed “The Sign of the Cross” when to carry it meant death, cruel and merciless. Man has so changed his outlook since then that it is hard to believe that men like Nero, Emperor of Rome, and his jealous Empress really lived, and that they could delight in seeing innocent people torn limb from limb by wild beasts. Remembrance that Rome as it is pictured by de MiUe really did exist, and that the followers of the Cross had to face such persecution will surely strengthen man’s resolve to never let die a faith so 'dearly paid for. Marcus Superbus, Prefect of Rome, is played by Fredric March, and beautiful Elissa Landi appears as the Christian girl Mercia. Charles Laughton gives a wonderful exposition of the self-centred Nero. Claudette Colbert plays as Poppaea, the Empress, whose jealousy of Marcus is the talk of Rome, "and lan Keith has been cast, as Tigellimus who envies Marcus his high standing with Emperor Nero and would do him ill at any cost. No expense seems to have been spared in producing this picture. R is to be shown throughout the week.