Constantine and the Cross
Cast & Crew
Lionello De Felice
Cornel Wilde
Christine Kaufmann
Belinda Lee
Elisa Cegani
Massimo Serato
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In the early years of the 4th century A. D., the warrior Constantine aids his father, Emperor Constantius Chlorus, in fighting the barbarians and is summoned to receive honors in Rome. En route to the city with his friend Hadrian, a centurion, he is ambushed by the soldiers of Maxentius, his political rival, who shifts the blame for the attack to the Christians. After leaving the wounded Hadrian in the care of Livia, a Christian maiden, Constantine arrives in Rome. Livia is imprisoned for her beliefs but is released through the intervention of Constantine, who is accused of treachery and forced to flee the city, leaving behind his betrothed, Fausta, Maxentius' sister. Subsequently, Constantius reveals before his death that Constantine's mother, Helena, is also a Christian. Constantine is acclaimed Emperor of the West; and he announces a position of toleration towards the Christians. He weds Fausta, but her father, Maximian, urged by Maxentius, attempts to assassinate him and commits suicide when the plot fails. Maxentius becomes ruler of Rome, continues the cruel persecution of the Christians, and has Livia tortured and killed. Fausta travels to Rome to sway him, but he holds her prisoner and conspires to attack Constantine's forces in Gaul. Encouraged by a vision of the cross bearing the inscription, "By This Sign Conquer," Constantine defeats his enemies, rescues Fausta and his mother, and assures freedom of worship to the Christians.
Director
Lionello De Felice
Cast
Cornel Wilde
Christine Kaufmann
Belinda Lee
Elisa Cegani
Massimo Serato
Fausto Tozzi
Tino Carraro
Carlo Ninchi
Vittorio Sanipoli
Franco Fantasia
Nando Tamberlani
Annibale Ninchi
Loris Gizzi
Nando Gazzolo
Enrico Glori
Jole Mauro
Renato Terra
Lia Angeleri
Crew
Giancarlo Bartolini Salimbeni
Beaver-champion Attractions
Massimo Dallamano
Ennio De Concini
Lionello De Felice
Diego Fabbri
Ferdinando Felicioni
Ernesto Guida
Joseph E. Levine
Franco Lolli
Mario Nascimbene
Fulvio Palmieri
Franco Rossetti
Guglielmo Santangelo
Gabriele Varriale
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Battle scenes filmed in Yugoslavia; Yugoslavian coproduction status unconfirmed. Opened in Rome in January 1961 as Costantino il Grande; running time: 95 min; cut from 120 min. Alternative Italian title: Costantino il Grande-In hoc signo vinces. Sources vary in rendering historical names; anglicized versions have been chosen.
