Review of Fabiola

Unusual for it's time, "Fabiola" ran nearly 3 hrs. It is immediately apparent that it's origins are not Hollywood because the great spectacle is secondary to the characters who have more depth and detail than is customary in these films. The severely truncated English version does not show the opening sequence of young Rhual ( a young Henri Vidal at his hunkiest) embarking from the backwater of Gallia Narbonensis to seek his fortune in the capital city. On entering Rome he immediately becomes part of the Roman underclass and makes his way by performing as an amateur gladiator at banquets of the wealthy. On his way to an engagement he stops for a night swim and encounters a beautiful girl in a private garden. This romantic encounter is beautifully filmed as in moonlight and will leave lasting impressions. Not only is the story of these two lovers fully developed, but every character including the minor ones are depicted with enough detail to establish their characters. The film has a complex plot involving back-stabbing treacherous patricians, secret Christians in the army, a teenage bully and killer (Franco Interlenghi), and a gentle saint (Sebastian, played by Massimo Girotti) in an unforgettable scene of martyrdom. Roman "justice" is seen at an impressive trial where all the innocent are implicated and sentenced to execution. The arena scenes are sufficiently grim and will keep viewers attentive until the film's rousing close. Hopefully this great classic will be restored and reissued, with subtitles or an alternate English language track.