The Sign of the Cross

9/6/2026

With Nero (Charles Laughton) on the throne of Rome and his scheming Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert) almost as maniacal as he, we enter a city on day three of the great conflagration. The emperor is more concerned by a broken string on his lyre as Tigellinus (Ian Keith) brings him disastrous news. The fires are starting to go out and what's more the citizens are beginning to wonder if he is the incendiary. A scapegoat must be found, and it just happens that a pesky sect called Christians could do that job nicely. The Prefect - "Marcus" (Frederic March) is summoned and ordered to wreak havoc on them all, save for a few who are to be saved for the arena. He's willing enough to carry out his task until he espies "Mercia" (Elissa Landi) whom he decides to protect from the edict. Needless to