The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-07-18
QUO VADIS' IS
HUGE SPECTACLE
Production of Film Represents
Cost of $4,000

QUO Vadis,' materialized in motion
nbotos is filling theaters in the east
NIGHTLY. owners of the film assert
that more than $4,000 was expended
in producing this conemacolor classic.
rhe pictures show that thousands of
people we're engaged in their making.
As "A spectacle the Quo Nadis' pic
turts are amazing. They made for
mcr efforts the stage has made IN this
direction seem pitifuiy weak and flu
file. il is claimed Such revels and
rampant debauchories, such thrilling
scenes cannot be imagined. The
GORGEOUS banquets of the tyrant Nero
are riots Of expense and excess, and
the sanity episode of the submissive
~ devoted Christians furnishes fit
tjug aud solemn prologue for the com
ing destruction of the Eternal city by
Gre.
Tegglnus Is seen whispering his
Infamous suggestion to Nero. and
forthwith YOU see the incendiaries
fare forth with torches to see Rome
aAamo. Immediately the streets are
fun of running, screaming people
thousands Ct them. Flames leap over
the Palatine- they hiss and dart
their destructive tongues up the hills
If the Esquiline and to the very
shores oC the Tibor. Palaces, public
buildings. circuses forums. Crumble
in their paths refugees are every
where horseElcn vault fallen pillars;
macn'i1ent editCes totter and disap-
pea in smoke, while from balcony
Nero sings To the accompaniment of
q kre.
Those awe inspiring scores shift to
the arena where the tragedies of 1000
Years ago are re enacted. Gladiators
appear and salute the tyrant monarch,
knowing well that they go To death
pc has ordained. Centuriuns driN ing
four chariot horses abreast race Tor
supremacy before the multitude. \
savage bull enters the arena. He is
Wild with rage and pitches about the
enclosure in a vain cndcavor to get
rid of his burden, Lygia, the Chris
tiun maiden, is strapped To his back.
The slave Ursus comes on the scene.
Ne has been confined i'm "A dark dun
geon and the brilliant sunlight blinds
him so that for moment he does not
Sc. the peril of his beloved mistress.
Then as the maddened bull rushes to-
ward him YOU see the giants power
ful contract for "A mighty effort He
srasps the crazed animal by its horns
ana twists the cruel neck until the
brute is choked into submission.
The arena is cleared and there is
moment Of suspense before the Chris
tan martyrs are driven in surrounded
3y their iailors The Christians kneel
IN prayer as a trap door is seen to
slowly rise. one after another a hun
drcd fierce Numidian lions creep forth.
Seeming their prey they lope toward
the pititul band of martyrs. and as
they prepare to leap among them the
scene changes 10 Neros garden at
night, where more Christians are tor
tured while being burned as human
torches to light inhuman acts.
Then IS shown the remorse of
Chi,o, the scheminc old pagan who
was the cause of the Christians being
delivered into the hands of Nero, and
hnallv You see Nero. awed by the
wrath of the populace, fleeing
Tor his life which he is too much of a
coward TO take himself until assisted
by one of his courtiers who guides the
KNIFE to the heart of the most dis
picable monster that has reigned az
monarch since the world began.
.......s.