File:1895 * Barrett (play).jpg

DeMille Film (1932)

The Sign of the Cross (1895) is a play by Wilson Barrett.

• See also The Last Days of Pompeii (1834) -- Quo Vadis? (1895) -- The Robe (1943) -- The Silver Chalice (1952)

Abstract

The story, set in the time of early Christianity and somehow inspired by Quo Vadis? (1895 Sienkiewicz), novel, related how a Prefect of Rome, Marcus Superbus, attempts to seduce a Christian maiden. She remains steadfast to her principles and the Prefect, now deeply in love, becomes a Christian and dies with her in the arena.

Editions, performances

Premiered at the Lyric Theatre in New York, USA, and then, on 26 August 1895, at the Grand Theatre in Leeds, England. An instant and lucrative success.

Adaptations

The play became a novel in 1897, and had three cinematographic adaptations (1904, 1914, and 1932).

• The Sign of the Cross (1897 Barrett), novel
• The Sign of the Cross (1904 Haggar), short film
• The Sign of the Cross (1914 Thomson), feature film
• The Sign of the Cross (1932 DeMille), film

External links

• Wikipedia