The Sword and the Cross

The Sword and the cross is a 1956 sword and sandal film directed by Guido Brignone starring Gianna Maria Canale, Jorge Mistral, Marisa Allasio and Ana Luisa Peluffo. The film, a coproduction between Italy, Spain, and Mexico, was and shot in widescreen (Cinetotalscope) in Italian in Cinecittà, Rome. Set in Tarsus, in the Roman province of Cilicia, 120 CE, the plot follows two Christian sisters who are sold as slaves in a story of love, vengeance, religious persecution, and martyrdom. Plot Beautiful and proud, Julia Marcia, is the spoiled daughter of Julius Tiberius, the Roman Proconsul of the province of Cilicia in the city of Tarsus. Julia's ailing father wants to betroth her to Flavius Metellus, a member of the Senate who is in love with her. This would leave Julia's future settle and Flavius could succeed his future father in law as governor of the province. However, Julia is reluctant to comply with her father's wishes. She is in love, but unrequited, with her friend the tribune Marco Valerio. While together on an excursion through town, Julia and Marcus come across to an auction where two sisters of Carthaginian origin are sold as slaves. Marco is immediately smitten with the blond sister, Lea, while his friend, Tullius, a Roman soldier, is attracted to the other sister, Esther, a brunette. These beautiful and educated slaves command a high asking price so Marco Valerio buys the sisters for Julia Marcia who pays for the transaction. During a dinner party at her father's opulent palace in Tarsus, Julia Marcia has Lea sung for her guest, but her Carthaginian aria displeases Julia who orders Lea to be harshly punished. Marco Valerio's obvious interest in Lea's beauty and sweetness drives Julia to cruelty. She orders her main servant, Afra, herself a former slave, to lash Lea frequently. Meanwhile, Esther is befriended by a fellow slave, Stephen, who is a Christian like the two sisters. Gradually, Esther and Stephen fall in love.