Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Quo Vadis

  • 19511951
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,420
1,605
Quo Vadis (1951)
International
Play trailer1:47
3 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadership of the despotic emperor Nero.After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadership of the despotic emperor Nero.After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadership of the despotic emperor Nero.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
15K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,420
1,605
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Mervyn LeRoy
      • Anthony Mann(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
      • S.N. Behrman(screen play)
      • Sonya Levien(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Robert Taylor
      • Deborah Kerr
      • Leo Genn
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Mervyn LeRoy
      • Anthony Mann(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
      • S.N. Behrman(screen play)
      • Sonya Levien(screen play)
    • Stars
      • Robert Taylor
      • Deborah Kerr
      • Leo Genn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 129User reviews
    • 57Critic reviews
    • Nominated for 8 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos3

    Quo Vadis
    Trailer 1:47
    Quo Vadis
    Quo Vadis
    Trailer 1:46
    Quo Vadis
    Streaming Passport: The Roman Empire
    Clip 4:38
    Streaming Passport: The Roman Empire

    Photos169

    Marina Berti and Leo Genn in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Deborah Kerr and Buddy Baer in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Robert Taylor in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Quo Vadis (1951)
    Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Peter Ustinov and Patricia Laffan in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Patricia Laffan in Quo Vadis (1951)
    Robert Taylor and Richard Garrick in Quo Vadis (1951)
    "Quo Vadis" Elizabeth Taylor screen test 1951 MGM MPTV
    "Quo Vadis" Elizabeth Taylor screen Test 1951 MGM MPTV
    Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor in Quo Vadis (1951)
    "Quo Vadis" Elizabeth Taylor screen Test 1951 MGM MPTV

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor
    • Marcus Vinicius
    Deborah Kerr
    Deborah Kerr
    • Lygia
    Leo Genn
    Leo Genn
    • Petronius
    Peter Ustinov
    Peter Ustinov
    • Nero
    Patricia Laffan
    Patricia Laffan
    • Poppaea
    Finlay Currie
    Finlay Currie
    • Peter
    Abraham Sofaer
    Abraham Sofaer
    • Paul
    Marina Berti
    Marina Berti
    • Eunice
    Buddy Baer
    Buddy Baer
    • Ursus
    Felix Aylmer
    Felix Aylmer
    • Plautius
    Nora Swinburne
    Nora Swinburne
    • Pomponia
    Ralph Truman
    Ralph Truman
    • Tigellinus
    Norman Wooland
    Norman Wooland
    • Nerva
    Peter Miles
    Peter Miles
    • Nazarius
    Geoffrey Dunn
    • Terpnos
    Nicholas Hannen
    Nicholas Hannen
    • Seneca
    D.A. Clarke-Smith
    • Phaon
    • (as D. A. Clarke - Smith)
    Rosalie Crutchley
    Rosalie Crutchley
    • Acte
    • Directors
      • Mervyn LeRoy
      • Anthony Mann(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • John Lee Mahin(screen play)
      • S.N. Behrman(screen play)
      • Sonya Levien(screen play)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    The Robe
    6.7
    The Robe
    El Cid
    7.2
    El Cid
    Ivanhoe
    6.8
    Ivanhoe
    The Fall of the Roman Empire
    6.7
    The Fall of the Roman Empire
    Cleopatra
    7.0
    Cleopatra
    Barabbas
    6.9
    Barabbas
    Quo Vadis
    5.7
    Quo Vadis
    King of Kings
    6.9
    King of Kings
    Spartacus
    7.9
    Spartacus
    Demetrius and the Gladiators
    6.6
    Demetrius and the Gladiators
    Quo Vadis?
    6.4
    Quo Vadis?
    Ben-Hur
    8.1
    Ben-Hur

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In his memoirs, "Dear Me" (1981), Sir Peter Ustinov recalled that MGM had sought him for the role of Emperor Nero, but dithered for months, refusing to commit. During this time, he received numerous telegrams from the studio, one of which stated that they were concerned that he might be too young to play the notorious Roman Emperor. Ustinov replied that Emperor Nero died when he was thirty, and that if they waited much longer, he'd be too old. The studio cabled back: "Historical research has proved you correct. You have the part." Coincidentally (or not), Ustinov was 30 years old when this movie was released.
    • Goofs
      Whilst the arena where the Christian executions take place has an elaborate ornament at its center, no such center would ever actually have such an ornament, as it would block the view for patrons on the other side.
    • Quotes

      Petronius: [in his dying letter to Nero] To Nero, Emperor of Rome, Master of the World, Divine Pontiff. I know that my death will be a disappointment to you, since you wished to render me this service yourself. To be born in your reign is a miscalculation; but to die in it is a joy. I can forgive you for murdering your wife and your mother, for burning our beloved Rome, for befouling our fair country with the stench of your crimes. But one thing I cannot forgive - the boredom of having to listen to your verses, your second-rate songs, your mediocre performances. Adhere to your special gifts, Nero - murder and arson, betrayal and terror. Mutilate your subjects if you must; but with my last breath I beg you - do not mutilate the arts. Fare well, but compose no more music. Brutalize the people, but do not bore them, as you have bored to death your friend, the late Gaius Petronius.

    • Alternate versions
      The DVD release restores the original overture and exit music, which, up until that point, was only heard in the original roadshow release and in the 1964 roadshow re-release.
    • Connections
      Edited into Atlantis: The Lost Continent (1961)

    User reviews129

    Review
    Top review
    Lives up to your expectations...Leo Genn and Peter Ustinov steal the acting honors...
    Ancient Rome never looked so good--especially in the gorgeous MGM technicolor of 1951. Costumes, sets, photography and music are all of a high order--and all of the performances are competent with two outstanding ones by Leo Genn (Petronius) and Peter Ustinov (Nero). Ustinov reminds me of an overbaked Charles Laughton in some of his mad scenes, but he is a convincing weakling as Nero. Leo Genn has some of the wittiest dialogue and handles his lines with professional ease, his eyes flashing with humor as he pretends to agree with Nero on certain points. Robert Taylor is stalwart in the lead giving his usual dependable performance and Deborah Kerr is lovely (if a bit British in manner) as Lygia.

    All the action and excitement you want from a spectacle--the burning of Rome, Christians in the arena thrown to the lions, the triumphal marches accompanied by Miklos Rozsa's mighty score--and scenes with sentimental and religious overtones (sometimes too extended and talky) --all combine to make the kind of lush spectacle MGM knew would be popular at the box-office. Although discriminating critics found fault with certain factors, it won eight Academy Award nominations with Ustinov and Genn both nominated for supporting roles.

    Grand scale spectacle--but don't expect anything deep.
    helpful•74
    17
    • Doylenf
    • May 11, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Qvo Vadis
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,623,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $101,486
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 51 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Quo Vadis (1951)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Quo Vadis (1951) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in August
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Back to top
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.