The Sign of the Cross_
In 64 A.D., Marcus Superbus is Prefect of Rome. When the Emperor Nero decides to renew persecution of the Christians, Marcus opposes him, fearing for the safety of Mercia, the Christian woman whom he loves. Through the machinations of the Empress Poppaea and other women at court, Tigellinus, Nero's agent in the war against the Christians, convinces Nero to have Mercia arrested. Marcus appeals to the emperor for mercy, but is told that she can be saved only by renouncing Christianity. Waiting to enter the arena to be killed, Mercia steadfastly refuses to reject her religion, despite Marcus' pleas. Finally, Marcus is converted by her and they enter the arena to face death together.
Starring
William Farnum, Rosina Henley, Sheridan Block
Updated Feb 16, 2026
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Year context
The Sign of the Cross was released 112 years ago in 1914.
Overview
In 64 A.D., Marcus Superbus is Prefect of Rome. When the Emperor Nero decides to renew persecution of the Christians, Marcus opposes him, fearing for the saf...
The Sign of the Cross is a Drama film with a runtime of 1h 7m.
CAST (11)
William Farnum
Marcus Superbus
RH
Rosina Henley
Mercia, a Christian maid
SB
Sheridan Block
Nero
MT
Morgan Thorpe
Favius
Ethel Grey Terry
Berenice
LB
Lila Barclay
Poppaea
George Majeroni
Tigellinus
OC
Ogden Childe
Stephanus
Ethel Phillips
Dacia
CE
Charles E. Vernon
Glabrio
RD
Rienzi De Cordova
Philodemus
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Sign of the Cross about?
In 64 A.D., Marcus Superbus is Prefect of Rome. When the Emperor Nero decides to renew persecution of the Christians, Marcus opposes him, fearing for the safety of Mercia, the Christian woman whom he loves. Through the machinations of the Empress Poppaea and other women at court, Tigellinus, Nero's agent in the war against the Christians, convinces Nero to have Mercia arrested. Marcus appeals to the emperor for mercy, but is told that she can be saved only by renouncing Christianity. Waiting to enter the arena to be killed, Mercia steadfastly refuses to reject her religion, despite Marcus' pleas. Finally, Marcus is converted by her and they enter the arena to face death together.
How long is The Sign of the Cross?
The Sign of the Cross has a runtime of 67 minutes (1h 7m).
Who stars in The Sign of the Cross?
The cast of The Sign of the Cross includes William Farnum, Rosina Henley, Sheridan Block, Morgan Thorpe, Ethel Grey Terry.
What is the rating of The Sign of the Cross?
The Sign of the Cross has a rating of 5.1 out of 10 based on 8 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (1)
Drama