Quo Vadis?" | Screen Play ("Whither Goest Thou?")

Jamieson Lane, Sydney: The Swift Print, 1913. First Edition. Tightly modelled after an historical novel of the same name by Nobel prize-winning author, Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in Poland in 1895, "Quo Vadis?" is set in Rome at the time of Emperor Nero's reign, circa 64 AD. Reported as being the most expensive production of this nature to date, in "Quo Vadis?" we see the dramatic enactment of cruel and violent public spectacles hosted in Nero's huge amphitheatre. Ravenous lions stalk sacrificial Christians blamed for the apocalyptic blaze in the burning of Rome. Heroine Lygia enters the stadium lashed against her will to the back of a mad bull.

Spencers Pictures Ltd secured the Australasian rights to the motion picture for the record sum of £4000 after phenomenal success at the box office across Europe.

'The Management deem it a great honour to present to the Amusement Loving Public of Australia Cines' 8000 ft. Masterpiece, "QUO VADIS?" which they regard as the Greatest Achievement in the Annals of Cinematographic Representation - a Wondrous Picture that will live for all time. It represents the dawn of a new era as far as film projection in Australia is concerned inasmuch as the screening will occupy an Entire Evening's Entertainment. So tensely interesting are the hundreds of mighty spectacles in "QUO VADIS?" that no other subject is to be given a place on the program.'. Quarto, printed paper wrappers, 16 pages, photographically illustrated with production stills throughout, light creasing and small tear (less than a centimetre) to front cover, a very good copy.