65
Metascore
6 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Chicago Sun-TimesMiriam Di NunzioChicago Sun-TimesMiriam Di NunzioDirected by Mervin LeRoy, the film is epic in scale, with special effects that were quite advanced for their day, and a glorious film score. Some historical facts might not be quite accurate, but it won't make a difference in the end. [10 Apr 2009, p.NC18]
- 83Entertainment WeeklyLanford BeardEntertainment WeeklyLanford BeardGolden era MGM takes on Christ! The lavish story of Roman-Christian conflict was universally loved, thanks to star turns by Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, and supporting players Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn.
- 75Chicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumChicago ReaderJonathan RosenbaumMGM’s opulent version of ancient Rome circa 1951, with Peter Ustinov at his most whimsical doing honors as the mad Nero...Directed with some pizzazz by Mervyn LeRoy.
- One of MGM's biggest box-office hits, the epic QUO VADIS offers a spectacular cast to match its overwhelming production; there's plenty to enjoy, but don't look for greatness. Over it all looms a loony Ustinov as Emperor Nero, despite director LeRoy's best efforts to keep him from chewing the scenery as he enjoyably steals the show.
- 75Chicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonChicago TribuneMichael WilmingtonOne of the most lavish and entertaining of all Hollywood religious epics. [15 May 1998, p.M]
- 60EmpireIan NathanEmpireIan NathanEnough large-scale spectacle scenes to outweigh the inevitable religiose sludge that creeps in between them.
- 60Time OutTime OutIt does last virtually three hours, and along the way does have stretches of tedium, but LeRoy invests most of it with pace, true spectacle, and not a little imagination.
- 60The IndependentThe IndependentRobert Taylor plays the Roman general and Deborah Kerr the Christian slave he's attracted to, but it's Peter Ustinov, hamming it up a treat as the Emperor Nero, who steals the show in this long and lavish epic. [05 May 2007, p.48]
- Within and around these visual triumphs and rich imagistic displays is tediously twined a hackneyed romance that threatens to set your teeth on edge.