Mel's Passion and Cecil B. DeMille

[Evil_Captor]

@Mockingbird

That is just a propaganda smear campaign by Roxio to get more people to use Easy CD Creator.

It’s so sad how the level of discourse has been lowered since Microsoft went after Lindows in the EU.

Yes, especially in this thread. Passion of Christ to raped by jackals in less than 20 posts. We would have to raise the tone in here considerably to be considered for entrance in the BBQ Pit.

[Evil_Captor]

I’ve written an essay on *Sign of the Cross * for my site, thanks in part to the discussion here.

Here’s a link.

The page I’ve linked to is work-friendly, but the pages linked to at the end may not be work friendly. So browse further at your own risk.

Thanks for all the input.

[Walloon]

I enjoyed your web tribute to the kinkier aspects of Sign of the Cross (1932), Evil Captor.

One small correction. The Production Code (i.e., Hayes Code) was published in 1930, not 1933. But an enforcement mechanism was not in place until July 1934.

The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures says,

According to the film’s file in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, the Hays Office wanted Ancaria’s seductive dance around Mercia eliminated entirely. In his autobiography, DeMille recounts the conversation he had with Hays Office director Will H. Hays regarding the scene. After Hays asked DeMille what he was going to do about the scene, DeMille responded, “Not a damn thing.” The dance stayed in the picture.

Sign of the Cross was re-issued in February 1934, 1938, and 1944. As the MPAA files say only one cut was made for the 1944 release (a woman’s robe falling offscreen to imply nudity), I’m guessing that the majority of cuts were made in 1938.

[MovieMogul]

@lissener

B. Fascinating review with LOTS of comparisons to DeMille’s and others’ versions of the story.

Good article. Here’s another one that discusses parallels between Mel & Cecil (seems like there should be a Simpsons Sideshow joke in there somewhere).

[Evil_Captor]

@ArchiveGuy

Good article. Here’s another one that discusses parallels between Mel & Cecil (seems like there should be a Simpsons Sideshow joke in there somewhere).

Interesting article in Salon. I had always thought DeMille had little or no interest in religion, just used religion as a cover for his sexy stuff, to sell movie tickets to “both sides of the aisle” so to speak. Whereas the article indicates that DeMille thought of himself as a missionary whose mission is movies. He was cynically using SEX to get people interested in RELIGION.

Pretty damned weird, either way, since a lot of religious feeling clearly originates in a cynical rejection of sex.

[Evil_Captor]

@Evil Captor

Pretty damned weird, either way, since a lot of religious feeling clearly originates in a cynical rejection of sex.

Er, make that “hysterical rejection of sex.”

[Evil_Captor]

@Walloon

I enjoyed your web tribute to the kinkier aspects of Sign of the Cross (1932), Evil Captor.

One small correction. The Production Code (i.e., Hayes Code) was published in 1930, not 1933. But an enforcement mechanism was not in place until July 1934.

The American Film Institute Catalog of Motion Pictures says,
Sign of the Cross was re-issued in February 1934, 1938, and 1944. As the MPAA files say only one cut was made for the 1944 release (a woman’s robe falling offscreen to imply nudity), I’m guessing that the majority of cuts were made in 1938.

Good point. The sources I’ve seen tend to use 1934 as the time when the Hayes Code was instituted, but I’ve somehow managed to get even that year wrong.

I didn’t find any references to the earlier releases, but I’m betting most were made for the 1934 release so it wouldn’t have the Hayes people all over it.

[FriarTed]

Btw, Wed night I caught the 1927 DeMille King of Kings on Turner Classic Movies- it freakin’ rocked! I am sure Mel studied it while making The Passion, several scenes had a VERY similar feel (tho definitely not the Scourging & Crucifixion ones, which of course were quite sanitary in KoK). And check out the VERY yummy 1920s Mary Magdalene (who was even more alluring when she covered her midriff & let her hair flow down).

[Evil_Captor]

@FriarTed

Btw, Wed night I caught the 1927 DeMille King of Kings on Turner Classic Movies- it freakin’ rocked! I am sure Mel studied it while making The Passion, several scenes had a VERY similar feel (tho definitely not the Scourging & Crucifixion ones, which of course were quite sanitary in KoK). And check out the VERY yummy 1920s Mary Magdalene (who was even more alluring when she covered her midriff & let her hair flow down).

In what respect did it freaking rock? Any allusions to nudity, perversion, sex … you know … the good stuff?

[C_K_Dexter_Haven]

<< He was cynically using SEX to get people interested in RELIGION. >>

I dunno if it’s fair to assert deliberate cynacism. I mean, almost any movie has the bad guys doing something wicked, so that the good guys can clobber them at the end. If we look at a gangster movie, like the Paul Muni SCARFACE, you wouldn’t think that they were “cynically” using violence to get people interested in law enforcement.

[bienville]

@Evil Captor

You’re being sarcastic, right? 'Cause frex has been running around on the Web for years. I think it’s an excellent coined phrase and use it liberally.

O.K. I give up. What is frex?

[Achren]

according to acronym.com…

FREX - For Example

[bienville]

Thank You Achren!