Nero's Mistress

The young emperor Nero (Alberto Sordi) proves himself spoiled, childish, and unable to cope with the governing of Rome. His domineering mother Agrippina (Gloria Swanson) and the wise philosopher Seneca (Vittorio De Sica) try to change the personality of the emperor, but nothing can make Nero into a wise and honorable ruler. Agrippina then takes advantage of a poetic and theatrical failure of Nero to kill him and take over the government of Rome. Seneca initially supports the woman, but then plays a double game and warns Nero about the conspiracy. Agrippina smartly lays the blame on the Christians and on Seneca, who could be sentenced to death. However Nero is easily deceived again and proved magnanimous, forgiving all. The trouble starts at court for the umpteenth time when Nero finds out that Seneca had lied about the "poetic art" of the emperor, saying to the people that Nero sings and performs worse than a stupid monkey .