Quo Vadis (1913 film)

The story is set during the latter years of the reign of the emperor Nero. Marcus Vinicius, one of Nero's military officers, falls in love with a young Christian hostage named Lygia. But their love is hindered by Nero, who has his soldiers burn Rome and pins the blame on the Christians. Nero launches a cruel persecution of the religious sect, who are sentenced to death in the Circus. Among the victims is Lygia. She is tied to the back of a bull in imitation of Europa. But her life is saved by her bodyguard Ursus, who wrestles and kills the bull. ==Cast==

• 1901 film directed by Lucien Nonguet and Ferdinand Zecca • 1924 film directed by Gabriellino D'Annunzio and Georg Jacoby, produced by Arturo Ambrosio • 1951 film directed by Mervyn LeRoy • 1985 TV mini-series directed by Franco Rossi • 2001 film directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz • 2002 TV series (6 ep.) directed by Jerzy Kawalerowicz ==Removal from U.S. distribution==

When the 1924 version was issued, to prevent theatres from showing the 1913 film in competition, the Unione Cinematografica Italiana purchased all rights to the performance of 1913 film in the United States and Australia, including the existing inventory of film prints, stills, posters, and glass slides, from George Kleine, who had obtained the U.S. rights back in 1913. ==References==