The article is devoted to the study of the development of Italian cinema in the period of fascism. The author draws attention to the Italian film industry in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The article describes the process of monopolization of Italian film studios and its influence on the cinema of the fascist period. «Quo Vadis», «Cabiria» are considered in comparison with fascist films «Nerone», «Scipione l'africano». The author studies how the ancient heritage was used in films of the early twentieth century and in fascist films. This comparison illustrates how antique plots were used in the propaganda of politics and how films about antiquity performed the ideological function of legitimizing fascism in Italy during the fascism’s period.