I have often read that Elizabeth Taylor has a small part in this film which went unmentioned in the credits. The IMDb site even shows a picture of her in her Quo Vadis costume. Which part does she play, and when does it come in the film? I've tried and tried to recognize her everytime I see this great film, but I can never find her. Thanks for your help!
shareI was a little confused by the pictures of her, too. To my knowledge, she played no part in the film, but was considered for the part of Lygia before Deborah Kerr. I suspect the photos are costume test pictures taken very early in the casting process. I think there was a conflict with Taylor's schedule (she was on, or beginning another picture - or she may have become ill), preventing her from accepting the part. I'm sure they anticipated a long shooting schedule for "Quo Vadis" and that may have played a part in Taylor's absence. I'm going strictly from memory here. Anyone else have better information about this? . . .
shareThank you, cwente2, for your nice response.
Actually, I have some more info myself which might help answer my own question.
A TV documentary about Liz Taylor's life mentioned that she was having some marital troubles with her first husband, Nicky Hilton, and wanted to get away from his violent temper. She contacted director Mervyn Leroy (both were in Italy at the time) and asked if he could use her in any way in his film. I think the TV show mentioned that the only place he could squeeze her in was as an extra in one of the arena scenes.
But there are thousands of extras in the arena! If this story is true, I'll never get to see her! Oh, well....
It is also mentioned somewhere in the credits(I think) that Sophia Loren has a bit part in the banquet scene, but have not been able to see her so far.
bummer
I have seen that, too, several places, and have actually seen a photo of Loren in costume for the film. . . Can't for the life of me remember where I saw it, though. I do remember she looked gorgeous (as she always does)! Not much help. Sorry.
shareSophia Loren was one of the Christians being fed to the lions. In the ABC movie where she plays her own mother as well as herself, they ran a clip from the scene.
I took the Dale Carnegie course years ago, and one of the most memorable speeches was from somebody who had met Sophia on a cruise ship off the coast of Naples. George was 12 years old at the time and had gotten up early to take a stroll. He said Sophia was crying and told him about living in Naples during the war.
Lucky boy! The only star I ever met was Jane Alexander when she was appearing at the Kennedy Center in MONDAY AFTER THE MIRACLE, the sequel to THE MIRACLE WORKER. We had a mutual friend who I took to the play and got to go backstage afterward.
Sophia Loren and her husband owned several acres in the Hidden Hills are of Los Angeles County and we used to see them frequently at the local restaurants. She was so so tall and majestic and Carlo was such a tiny man. In the last few years, Carlo was in a wheelchair.
People just left them alone, as is the custom here.
One of their sons, Carlo Jr., is the resident conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony and he's a very fine musician.
I used to see him on the Pepperdine College Campus where he was studying music.
According to the credits under Full Cast and Crew
Elizabeth Taylor...............Christian Prisoner in Arena [uncredited]
eldo77
...shows it was a costume test for Lygia. Robert Osborne tonight said that Liz happened to be in Rome during the filming and asked to be in the picture as an extra as a lark. This was presumably after Kerr had been cast in the role. I also always ehard that Sophia Loren and her mother were extras in the crowd scene. I doubt that you'll be albe to spot either one.
shareAnd Gregory Peck was to be cast in the Robert Taylor role.
shareSophia Loren was an extra,but the Liz Taylor story is a rumor.She was already a star at the time the film was made so if she is in it it was just for the fun of it.
Audrey Hepburn was considered for the role of Lygia,but MGM went for Kerr because she was a bigger box office draw at the time.
Stewert Grainger was offered the Robert Taylor role...he was a bigger name at the time (Taylor was considered at the verge of being a has been) and had co starred with Taylor in the very sucessful "King's Solomon's Mines",but he declined,and admittted after it was a huge mistake on his part. The role revived Taylor's career,which was in the doldrums.
If I' m not mistaken the Sofia Loren part in Quo Vadis wasn' t in the banquet scene but in the parade: she' s the girl waving at Marcus Vinicius (as you can see in the documentary about her life, Cercando Sophia. It was her first movie role).
shareSophia Loren played Lygia's slave in the movie. It was Loren's 10th movie.
Help stamp out and do away with redundancy
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I read the novel and Robert Taylor was way too old for the role of Vinicius (which is what he's called in the book).
shareI read the novel and Robert Taylor was way too old for the role of Vinicius (which is what he's called in the book).
That's true. But I think Deborah Kerr was too old to play Lygia too.
Yes, it's true! IMDB has reached Sweden!
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Well, yes, but Marcus Vinicius in the book was obviously younger than that.
Yes, it's true! IMDB has reached Sweden!
In those days, whatever the genre, everyone was too old.
shareAnd in these days, everyone is too young.
So whaddaya gonna do?
Hi:
Here's what I have from the research I did for my bio on Robert Taylor:
"MGM began work in 1949 on a large-scale production. The stars were cast, with Elizabeth Taylor and Gregory Peck in the leads. Quo Vadis was a story of epic moviemaking proportions. Given a budget of $6,500,000, the biggest ever for a film to that date, the final effort employed thirty-seven thousand extras, thirty-two thousand costumes, twenty-three lions, and for dramatic effect, employed a chariot race and set up an elaborate scheme to recreate the burning of Rome. There were one hundred and ten speaking parts. Action figures were put on the drawing board to be released along with the movie, one of the earliest examples of mass product marketing connected to film distribution.
"The movie was so long in preparation that by 1950, there had been a director change, and the show languished in seemingly never-ending pre-production. Mervyn LeRoy was now at the helm and casting changed. Elizabeth Taylor was replaced by Deborah Kerr as Lygia, the young servant girl. Stewart Granger wanted the role of Marcus Vinicius, the Roman soldier who fell in love with her. He refused to sign to a long-term contract, though, and in the end result, Bob tested for the part. This was Mayer’s last big budget production, and he favored his Golden Boy of earlier days in the title. Bob got the role."
. . .
"Bob was forty years old and a chain-smoker, hardly what would normally be considered the best profile for a virile character such as Marcus Vinicius. He still had the looks, though, along with the physique and the austere persona."
. . .
This was the last MGM movie of note w/Louis B. Mayer at the helm. Mayer wanted Bob in the part -- & he got what he wanted. Bob, on the other hand, started an affair w/a young Roman bit player who spoke almost no English. Lia DiLeo played Nero's manicurist. If you look real close, you can barely see her before the camera pans away. Before filming was all over -- his marriage was fatally damaged due, mostly, to the public arena in which the affair played out.
And yes, Sophia Loren had a bit part. Lia DiLeo told me she "did it for the money, like the rest of us." Remember, the movie was filmed in Rome at Cinecitta Studios, & Loren was a young lady at that time, just getting her feet wet.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Linda J. Alexander
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
RELUCTANT WITNESS: ROBERT TAYLOR, HOLLYWOOD, & COMMUNISM
Order through your local bookstore, or online:
PRINT: www.amazon.com or other online booksellers
E-BOOK: www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook65661.htm
Robert Osborne on TCM said Liz Taylor was in Rome and did the cameo as a favor to the director. I don't think it's a rumor, lol Robert wouldn't lie to us! I think she might be the girl who is running from a lion and screaming and then she falls. Peter Ustinov points her out to his wife. Maybe not, but it did sort of sound like Liz's scream, as silly as that sounds lol.
shareThe pictures with Elizabeth Taylor in Quo vadis costume are from a screen test. It says so in the captions.
And as stunning as Liz looked, I'm actually still glad, that they went with Deborah Kerr instead. Because in the book, Lygia was a blonde, and the red-head Deborah Kerr was closer to that than the brunette Elizabeth Taylor.
Yes, it's true! IMDB has reached Sweden!
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Apparently she is one of the extras at the catacomb sequence. But I have never been able to spot her. Also, Sophia Loren is said to be there as well.
shareTruth or rumor? It is hard to confirm.
I have read many times that Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Lillian Gish, and others worked as extras during the chariot scene of (the MGM silent) BEN HUR.
I have never known whether to really believe that or not; as with this story.
Even if meticulous records were kept in regard to extras (which MGM no doubt did), these stars would have had enough clout to just appear on the set, with no paper work done.
I think it will always be a mystery/rumor.
She is gourmet lion food according to several sources.
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