A major hit distributed around the world with 342 prints (the number given by the boss himself, Arturo Ambrosio). Today it is still an entertaining movie. Working with common knowledge of the cruel emperor, Frusta chose a sentimental side: Nero’s was a story of amour fou. He and Poppea, tragically kindred souls, revel in the depths of their passion. Everything else can go up in flames. Tame Octavia gets a dagger in her back. The scene of Rome on fire strikes us not only for its visual magnificence, but also for the two lovers who take on amorous poses while watching the terrible, sublime blaze. The aftermath is a series of mysteries: what happened to Poppea? Why is Nerone tortured by remorse (not for the fire, not for Octavia, but for having put Christians to death)? Perhaps the two events are closely connected: the disappearance of his beloved opens the door to an invasion of ghosts, transforming him from being mad with love to just plain mad. Death is the only solution, and he dies by his own hand.