Movie review - "Constantine and the Cross" (1961) **1/2

Most Christian-in-Ancient Rome literature seems to concern the time of Jesus and shortly afterwards - the persecution of Christians, famous Emperors, so on. The dramatic hooks are bigger and clearer, the Christians were such underdogs.

Later on they were less so, which is maybe why filmmakers steered clear. This has a fascinating subject matter though  - Constantine, whose conversion to Christianity turned a minority religion to the main game in town.

 

That helps this movie - along with the production values and the fact the cast includes Cornel Wilde, Belinda Lee and Christina Kaufman.

 

Lee plays Constantine's wife Fausta who he later had executed for sleeping with his step son... which is a typical Lee role from this period, but Fausta here is relatively goody-goody (a sequel focusing on her would've been more fun).

 

Christians get eaten by lions, there are battles, extras, lounging in togas, assassinations. Not bad.