By the Cross
“In hoc signo vinces!”
About By the Cross
Maximian comes out of retirement, takes the army's oath near Lodi, and tries to win Constantine's sister Constance, who wants Licinius. The plot against Constantine fails. Maximian is put to death. Fausta warns her brother Maxentius, who declares war. Constantine crosses the Alps. The night before the fight at the Milvian Bridge he sees a cross in the sky, with the words In hoc signo vinces, and a vision tells him to mark his shields with it. His army wins. Maxentius drowns in the Tiber.
Cast & crew
More about By the Cross
Nino Oxilia directed. Giovanni Alessio wrote the screenplay. Savoia Film made it. The Italian title is In hoc signo vinces. Italy saw it on 13 December 1913. The original cut ran 120 minutes, in three parts, and used about 600 extras. It was the longest Italian silent until Cabiria in 1914. Maria Jacobini, Dillo Lombardi, and Bartolomeo Pagano are billed. It was sold in France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.
Themes
Background
The story runs from Maximian's return to Constantine's victory over Maxentius in 312 and the turn to the cross.
Making
Oxilia staged the tetrarchy's collapse and the Edict of Milan as one epic, with the crowd scenes built for 600 extras.
Preservation
The catalog records that three of the original six reels survive.
Notes
- The English release title on some posters is The Triumph of an Emperor.
- Constance refuses Maximian. Fausta has been told to stop her match with Licinius.
- The vision comes the night before the battle near the Ponte Milvio.
- Maxentius dies in the river while he is running.
- Mario Mariani, Adriana Costamagna, and Arturo Garzes are billed with Jacobini and Lombardi.
- In the Catholic south of the Netherlands it was still being shown in the early 1920s.
Scenes
- Maximian takes the army's oath in the field near Lodi.
- Constantine sees the cross and the words In hoc signo vinces.
- Maxentius drowns in the Tiber.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (In hoc signo vinces (1913).webm)
Quotes
In hoc signo vinces
