03-01-2006, 06:42 PM
I second the silent version of Ben Hur. I think it is included with the newer special release of Wyler's 1959 Ben Hur on DVD, if I'm not wrong. Another Roman silent film that's still impressive, in my opinion, is Cabiria. The 1920s version of Quo Vadis (Emil Jannings as Nero) is amazing, too, as well as the 1920s version of Last Days in Pompeii. The sheer size of it all is amazing, and all sans CGI, matte paintings or many of the other special effects help later filmmakers used.
I have also read the Michael Curtis Ford books and liked them. It's interesting to compare "Gods and Legions" with Gore Vidal's "Julian".
Another older book I really enjoyed reading that I haven't seen on this thread is "The Conspiracy", by John Hersey. The whole book is an exchange of letters between Tigellinus and some of his secret police agents "uncovering" the "Seneca conspiracy" during Nero's reign. It's almost funny how paranoid Tigellinus and his agents are, reflects on more modern times' secret services and "intelligence gathering" as well.
Love this thread!
I have also read the Michael Curtis Ford books and liked them. It's interesting to compare "Gods and Legions" with Gore Vidal's "Julian".
Another older book I really enjoyed reading that I haven't seen on this thread is "The Conspiracy", by John Hersey. The whole book is an exchange of letters between Tigellinus and some of his secret police agents "uncovering" the "Seneca conspiracy" during Nero's reign. It's almost funny how paranoid Tigellinus and his agents are, reflects on more modern times' secret services and "intelligence gathering" as well.
Love this thread!
Aka
Christoph
Christoph
