I really do admire this film because of its amazing production values for 1909. While the sets certainly won't rival those of later Roman epics like QUO VADIS or CLEOPATRA, the costumes were awfully good for a time when budgets for films hardly surpassed the cost of film! So, this is a standout film in this sense.
However, when it comes to the style of the film and its value as history, it is of dubious value at best. The acting seems very vague and the actors mostly stand around and wait for the next inter-title card--there just isn't that much action on film and it seems as if the director was only yelling out a few suggestions here and there as the actors ad-libbed. This really was the style of many early films. Plus, the story is pure hokum--as if it was written by someone only vaguely aware of the facts. It implies Nero had Rome burned and talks about his love for Poppea, but this is odd since most historians today doubt if Nero had anything to do with the fire AND Nero apparently stomped his "beloved" Poppea to death during a fit of jealousy!! So much for the romantic aspect of the film! So I advise you to watch the film for its historic value and if you are a lover of early cinema. Otherwise, the film is pretty easy for the average person to skip,...and maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
However, when it comes to the style of the film and its value as history, it is of dubious value at best. The acting seems very vague and the actors mostly stand around and wait for the next inter-title card--there just isn't that much action on film and it seems as if the director was only yelling out a few suggestions here and there as the actors ad-libbed. This really was the style of many early films. Plus, the story is pure hokum--as if it was written by someone only vaguely aware of the facts. It implies Nero had Rome burned and talks about his love for Poppea, but this is odd since most historians today doubt if Nero had anything to do with the fire AND Nero apparently stomped his "beloved" Poppea to death during a fit of jealousy!! So much for the romantic aspect of the film! So I advise you to watch the film for its historic value and if you are a lover of early cinema. Otherwise, the film is pretty easy for the average person to skip,...and maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.