Word: poppaea
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Pageantry, Paganism, Piety. The Apostle is packed with realistic resuscitations of First-Century life in the Roman Empire, elaborately drawn portraits of famed pagans (Emperor Caligula, Empress Poppaea, Philosopher-Statesman Seneca), vivid descriptions of the burning of Rome, Nero's persecutions, the mystery cults and the worship of Diana...
...piece that rivals "Ben Hur" in intensity of action and elaborateness. Fredric March, as Marcus Superbus, prefect of Rome, who goes to death in the arena because of his love for Mercia (Elissa Landi), one of the persecuted Christians, and Claudette Colbert, who plays Nero's wife, Poppaea, do very well, but Charles Laughton, as the fat, indolent Nero, gives the picture its life blood. See him reclining after a heavy night of delicious debauchery while he puffs for breath as slaves manicure him, listen to him say "go away now," watch his eyes as he wildly strums the lyre...
...company in England since it was first played in 1895, is obvious devotional melodrama. Nero (Charles Laughton) orders his lieutenant, Marcus Superbus (Fredric March), to clear Rome of Christians. While doing so, Marcus falls in love with a Christian girl named Mercia (Elissa Landi). This makes the vicious Empress Poppaea (Claudette Colbert) jealous. Marcus Superbus tries to persuade Mercia to become a pagan. He fails. Nero wants to forgive her for being a Christian but Poppaea, to save Marcus from what she considers a misalliance, refuses to allow it. Mercia goes to the lions first. Marcus follows...
...majority are almost equally rare second and third printings. The titles of almost all are characteristically long and explanatory. One volume by George Chapman is entitled "A Justification of a Strange Action of Nero in Burying with Solemne Funerall One of the Cast Hayres of His Mistress Poppaea; Also a Just Reproof of a Romane Smell-Feast, Being the Fifth Satyre of Juvenall" Nicholas Breton is represented by one of his works published in 1612 which he titles "Pasquils Nightcap; or Antidote for the Head Ache...