03-12-2006, 07:46 PM
Sulla, if you're interested in finding new stuff, have you tried:
Scipione l'Africano (1937) - extraordinary piece of fascist propaganda about Roman / Italian victory in N.Africa with the Carthaginians portrayed as extremely barbaric, and culminating in a battle of Cannae which you leaves you looking for the 'x elephants were hurt in the making of this movie' caption at the end.
The Last Days of Pompeii (ultimi giorni di Pompeii). Made several times but I have the 1913 one on video. Fantastic silent movie.
Ben Hur - ok, watch the Charlton Heston one, but also the 1925 version which I much prefer. It's pre-code Hollywood, so it's another 'x horses were killed in the making of this film' one. The crash, sorry mega pile-up, in the chariot race actually happened.
Fellini's Satyricon (though you might prefer to read Petronius!)
The Sign of the Cross (1932) with Charles Laughton's awesome Nero and a wonderful scene of 'everything you could ever hope to see at the arena' before we get onto the Christian-killing.
I got all these from the USA so had to buy a multi-region video specially to watch them, but I think some are now available your side of the pond on dvd.
Kate
Scipione l'Africano (1937) - extraordinary piece of fascist propaganda about Roman / Italian victory in N.Africa with the Carthaginians portrayed as extremely barbaric, and culminating in a battle of Cannae which you leaves you looking for the 'x elephants were hurt in the making of this movie' caption at the end.
The Last Days of Pompeii (ultimi giorni di Pompeii). Made several times but I have the 1913 one on video. Fantastic silent movie.
Ben Hur - ok, watch the Charlton Heston one, but also the 1925 version which I much prefer. It's pre-code Hollywood, so it's another 'x horses were killed in the making of this film' one. The crash, sorry mega pile-up, in the chariot race actually happened.
Fellini's Satyricon (though you might prefer to read Petronius!)
The Sign of the Cross (1932) with Charles Laughton's awesome Nero and a wonderful scene of 'everything you could ever hope to see at the arena' before we get onto the Christian-killing.
I got all these from the USA so had to buy a multi-region video specially to watch them, but I think some are now available your side of the pond on dvd.
Kate
