Big Screen Rome is the first systematic survey of the most important and popular films from the past half century that reconstruct the image of Roman antiquity. The book provides in-depth discussions of a broad selection of famous films, including: Quo Vadis, Ben-Hur, Spartacus, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Gladiator.
Big Screen Rome makes an important contribution to discussions about the ongoing relevance of the classical world, demonstrating how popular appropriations of classical antiquity on film can enrich our understanding of the classical tradition. It also shows how modern film-makers use recreations of ancient history as commentaries on contemporary society. Written in an energetic and engaging style, the book responds to the exciting renewal of popular and scholarly interest in cinema about the ancient Roman world.